BSN HESI 215 DOSAGE CALCULATION EXAM V2 2026/2027 |
Questions & Verified Answers 100% Correct | Grade A |
Nightingale | Pass Guaranteed - A+ Graded
Section 1: Basic Conversions & Ratios
These foundational conversions are the building blocks of every calculation you'll do in
clinical practice. Master these, and the complex problems become manageable.
Q1: A patient weighs 165 lb. How many kilograms does this patient weigh? (Round to
the nearest tenth)
A. 70.5 kg
B. 75.0 kg
C. 75.0 kg [CORRECT]
D. 363 kg
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: That's right because when you convert pounds to kilograms, you divide by
2.2. So 165 ÷ 2.2 = 75.0 kg exactly. On HESI V2, remember that weight conversions are
the starting point for most pediatric and critical care calculations—always double-check
your division by 2.2, not multiplication.
,Q2: A medication is ordered in grains, and the pharmacy sends 325 mg tablets. If 1 grain
equals 60 mg, how many grains are in each tablet? (Round to nearest whole number)
A. 3 grains
B. 5 grains [CORRECT]
C. 6 grains
D. 10 grains
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct setup is 325 mg ÷ 60 mg/grain = 5.4 grains, which rounds to 5
grains. This apothecary conversion still appears on some older medication labels and
preoperative orders, so HESI includes it to ensure you're prepared for any situation you
might encounter in clinical.
Q3: A patient needs to measure 2 tablespoons of liquid medication at home. How many
milliliters should the nurse teach the patient to take?
A. 10 mL
B. 15 mL
C. 30 mL [CORRECT]
D. 45 mL
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Always remember that 1 tablespoon equals 15 mL, so 2 tablespoons equals
30 mL. This household conversion is essential for patient teaching—patients often have
,tablespoon measures at home but not calibrated cups, so knowing this prevents both
underdosing and overdosing.
Q4: An infant weighs 3.2 kg. What is the weight in grams?
A. 0.32 g
B. 32 g
C. 320 g
D. 3200 g [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: When converting kilograms to grams, you multiply by 1000 (move the
decimal three places right). So 3.2 kg = 3200 g. This seems simple, but decimal
placement errors are the most common mistake on dosage exams—always verify your
direction (multiply vs divide) and your decimal count.
Q5: A medication concentration is written as 1:1000. How many milligrams of drug are
in 1 mL of solution?
A. 0.1 mg
B. 1 mg [CORRECT]
C. 10 mg
D. 1000 mg
Correct Answer: B
, Rationale: A 1:1000 ratio means 1 gram of drug in 1000 mL of solution, which equals 1
mg per mL. Ratio and proportion problems require you to understand what the ratio
represents—here it's weight per volume, and 1 g/1000 mL simplifies to 1 mg/1 mL. This
concentration is common for epinephrine.
Q6: A patient is to receive 0.125 mg of digoxin. The tablets available are 125 mcg each.
How many tablets should the nurse administer?
A. 0.5 tablet
B. 1 tablet [CORRECT]
C. 2 tablets
D. 4 tablets
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: First convert 0.125 mg to mcg by multiplying by 1000: 0.125 mg = 125 mcg.
Then 125 mcg ÷ 125 mcg/tablet = 1 tablet. On HESI V2, remember that digoxin doses
are often written in both units to test your conversion skills—always convert to the same
unit before calculating.
Section 2: Oral & Parenteral Medications
Getting medication from the bottle into the patient requires precision with tablets, liquids,
and injections. This section tests your preparation and administration calculations.
Q7: A patient is ordered phenytoin 0.2 g PO daily. The capsules available are 100 mg
each. How many capsules should the nurse administer?
Questions & Verified Answers 100% Correct | Grade A |
Nightingale | Pass Guaranteed - A+ Graded
Section 1: Basic Conversions & Ratios
These foundational conversions are the building blocks of every calculation you'll do in
clinical practice. Master these, and the complex problems become manageable.
Q1: A patient weighs 165 lb. How many kilograms does this patient weigh? (Round to
the nearest tenth)
A. 70.5 kg
B. 75.0 kg
C. 75.0 kg [CORRECT]
D. 363 kg
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: That's right because when you convert pounds to kilograms, you divide by
2.2. So 165 ÷ 2.2 = 75.0 kg exactly. On HESI V2, remember that weight conversions are
the starting point for most pediatric and critical care calculations—always double-check
your division by 2.2, not multiplication.
,Q2: A medication is ordered in grains, and the pharmacy sends 325 mg tablets. If 1 grain
equals 60 mg, how many grains are in each tablet? (Round to nearest whole number)
A. 3 grains
B. 5 grains [CORRECT]
C. 6 grains
D. 10 grains
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct setup is 325 mg ÷ 60 mg/grain = 5.4 grains, which rounds to 5
grains. This apothecary conversion still appears on some older medication labels and
preoperative orders, so HESI includes it to ensure you're prepared for any situation you
might encounter in clinical.
Q3: A patient needs to measure 2 tablespoons of liquid medication at home. How many
milliliters should the nurse teach the patient to take?
A. 10 mL
B. 15 mL
C. 30 mL [CORRECT]
D. 45 mL
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Always remember that 1 tablespoon equals 15 mL, so 2 tablespoons equals
30 mL. This household conversion is essential for patient teaching—patients often have
,tablespoon measures at home but not calibrated cups, so knowing this prevents both
underdosing and overdosing.
Q4: An infant weighs 3.2 kg. What is the weight in grams?
A. 0.32 g
B. 32 g
C. 320 g
D. 3200 g [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: When converting kilograms to grams, you multiply by 1000 (move the
decimal three places right). So 3.2 kg = 3200 g. This seems simple, but decimal
placement errors are the most common mistake on dosage exams—always verify your
direction (multiply vs divide) and your decimal count.
Q5: A medication concentration is written as 1:1000. How many milligrams of drug are
in 1 mL of solution?
A. 0.1 mg
B. 1 mg [CORRECT]
C. 10 mg
D. 1000 mg
Correct Answer: B
, Rationale: A 1:1000 ratio means 1 gram of drug in 1000 mL of solution, which equals 1
mg per mL. Ratio and proportion problems require you to understand what the ratio
represents—here it's weight per volume, and 1 g/1000 mL simplifies to 1 mg/1 mL. This
concentration is common for epinephrine.
Q6: A patient is to receive 0.125 mg of digoxin. The tablets available are 125 mcg each.
How many tablets should the nurse administer?
A. 0.5 tablet
B. 1 tablet [CORRECT]
C. 2 tablets
D. 4 tablets
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: First convert 0.125 mg to mcg by multiplying by 1000: 0.125 mg = 125 mcg.
Then 125 mcg ÷ 125 mcg/tablet = 1 tablet. On HESI V2, remember that digoxin doses
are often written in both units to test your conversion skills—always convert to the same
unit before calculating.
Section 2: Oral & Parenteral Medications
Getting medication from the bottle into the patient requires precision with tablets, liquids,
and injections. This section tests your preparation and administration calculations.
Q7: A patient is ordered phenytoin 0.2 g PO daily. The capsules available are 100 mg
each. How many capsules should the nurse administer?
