ATI Medication Administration (Dosage Calculation) Questions And Answers

ATI Medication Administration
(Dosage Calculation) Questions
And Answers


A nurse is preparing to administer codeine 20 mg PO every 6 hr PRN pain. Available is
codeine oral solution 10 mg/ 5 mL. How many mL should the nurse administer per
dose?



(Round to the nearest whole number. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a
trailing zero.) - (correct answer) -Answer: 10 mL



Follow these steps for the Ratio and Proportion method of calculation:

Step 1: What is the unit of measurement the nurse should calculate? mL

Step 2: What is the dose the nurse should administer? Dose to administer = Desired 20
mg

Step 3: What is the dose available? Dose available = Have 10 mg

Step 4: Should the nurse convert the units of measurement? No

Step 5: What is the quantity of the dose available? 5 mL

Step 6: Set up an equation and solve for X.

Have/Quantity = Desired/X

10 mg/ 5 mL = 20 mg/ X mL

X mL = 10 mL

Step 7: Round if necessary.

,Step 8: Determine whether the amount to administer makes sense. If there are 10 mg/5
mL and the prescription reads 20 mg, it makes sense to administer 10 mL. The nurse
should administer codeine oral solution 10 mL PO every 6 hr PRN pain.

A nurse is preparing to administer eszopiclone 2,000 mcg PO to a client. How many mg
should the nurse administer?



(Round to the nearest whole number. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a
trailing zero.) - (correct answer) -Answer: 2 mg



Follow these steps for the Ratio and Proportion method of calculation:

Step 1: What is the unit of measurement the nurse should calculate? mg

Step 2: What is the dose the nurse should administer? Dose to administer = Desired
2,000 mcg

Step 3: What is the dose available? Dose available = Have 1 mg

Step 4: Should the nurse convert the units of measurement? Yes (mcg does not equal
mg)

1,000 mcg/1 mg = 2,000 mcg/X mg

X mg = 2 mg

Step 5: Round if necessary.

Step 6: Determine whether the amount to administer makes sense. If the prescription
reads 2,000 mcg and 1,000 mcg equals 1 mg, it makes sense to administer 2 mg. The
nurse should administer eszopiclone 2 mg PO.

A nurse is preparing to administer tobramycin 4 mg/kg/day IM divided in three equal
doses to a patient who weighs 60 kg. Available is tobramycin 40 mg/mL. How many mL
should the nurse administer per dose?



(Round to the nearest whole number. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a
trailing zero.) - (correct answer) -Answer: 2 mL

, Follow these steps for the Ratio and Proportion method of calculation:

Step 1: What is the unit of measurement the nurse should calculate? mg

Step 2: Set up an equation and solve for X.

X = Dose per kg × Client's weight in kg

X mg = 4 mg/kg × 60 kg

X mg = 240 mg

The dose is divided into three equal doses; therefore, divide X by 3.

240 mg = 80 mg3

Step 3: What is the unit of measurement the nurse should calculate? mL

Step 4: What is the dose the nurse should administer? Dose to administer = Desired 80
mg

Step 5: What is the dose available? Dose available = Have 40 mg

Step 6: Should the nurse convert the units of measurement? No

Step 7: What is the quantity of the dose available? 1 mL

Step 8: Set up an equation and solve for X.

Have/Quantity = Desired/X

40 mg/1 mL = 80 mg/X mL

X mL = 2 mL

Step 9: Round if necessary.

Step 10: Determine whether the amount to administer makes sense. If there are 40
mg/mL and the prescription reads 4 mg/kg/day divided in three equal doses, it makes
sense to administer 2 mL. The nurse should administer tobramycin 2 mL IM per dose.

A nurse is preparing to administer meperidine 75 mg IM stat. Available is meperidine
injection 100 mg/mL. How many mL should the nurse administer?