DOSAGE CALCULATION REVIEW QUESTIONS WELL ANSWERED LATEST UPDATE 2026
What is the basic dose formula? - Answers (Desired dose ÷ Dose on hand) × Quantity
What is the desired dose? - Answers The ordered amount (e.g., 250 mg)
What is the dose on hand? - Answers The strength available (e.g., 500 mg/tab)
What is quantity in a dose calculation? - Answers The unit form (e.g., 1 tab, 5 mL vial)
If a patient is ordered 250 mg and you have 500 mg tabs - Answers how many tabs?, (250 ÷ 500) × 1 =
0.5 tablet
How do you calculate mL/hr? - Answers Total mL ÷ time (hours)
How do you calculate gtt/min? - Answers (mL × drop factor) ÷ time (minutes)
What is microdrip tubing's drop factor? - Answers 60 gtt/mL
What is macrodrip tubing's drop factor? - Answers 10, 15, or 20 gtt/mL
Why must you know the drop factor? - Answers Because different tubing changes drip rate
What should you check on IV tubing? - Answers Kinks, bubbles, and that flow matches the order
1 tsp equals how many mL? - Answers 5 mL
1 tbsp equals how many mL? - Answers 15 mL
1 oz equals how many mL? - Answers 30 mL
1 kg equals how many pounds? - Answers 2.2 lbs
How do you convert °F to °C? - Answers (°F − 32) × 5/9
What is the formula for weight-based dosing? - Answers mg/kg × weight (kg)
Should you use ideal or actual body weight? - Answers Use actual body weight unless told otherwise
Why double-check pediatric doses? - Answers To stay within safe dose range
If a child weighs 15 kg and the dose is 10 mg/kg - Answers what's the total dose?, 10 × 15 = 150 mg
What are IV push meds? - Answers Drugs given directly into vein over specific time
What is titration? - Answers Adjusting dose based on patient response
What must you know to calculate infusion time? - Answers Drug concentration and volume
What is a common drug concentration unit? - Answers mg/mL or mg/tab
What happens if you forget unit conversions? - Answers You give the wrong dose
Why is the drop factor important? - Answers Using the wrong one changes the flow rate
Why must you check safe dose limits? - Answers To avoid overdose or underdose
How can decimals cause harm? - Answers A missed decimal can mean 10× the dose
Why is rushing dangerous? - Answers You may skip checks or miscalculate
What are the 5 Rights of medication? - Answers Right patient, drug, dose, route, time
Why check allergies and contraindications? - Answers To prevent serious reactions
What should you monitor during drug therapy? - Answers Therapeutic effects and side effects
Why educate patients on their meds? - Answers So they know what to expect and when to seek help
Why review renal/liver labs? - Answers These organs clear many drugs—doses may need adjusting
What is the basic dose formula? - Answers (Desired dose ÷ Dose on hand) × Quantity
What is the desired dose? - Answers The ordered amount (e.g., 250 mg)
What is the dose on hand? - Answers The strength available (e.g., 500 mg/tab)
What is quantity in a dose calculation? - Answers The unit form (e.g., 1 tab, 5 mL vial)
If a patient is ordered 250 mg and you have 500 mg tabs - Answers how many tabs?, (250 ÷ 500) × 1 =
0.5 tablet
How do you calculate mL/hr? - Answers Total mL ÷ time (hours)
How do you calculate gtt/min? - Answers (mL × drop factor) ÷ time (minutes)
What is microdrip tubing's drop factor? - Answers 60 gtt/mL
What is macrodrip tubing's drop factor? - Answers 10, 15, or 20 gtt/mL
Why must you know the drop factor? - Answers Because different tubing changes drip rate
What should you check on IV tubing? - Answers Kinks, bubbles, and that flow matches the order
1 tsp equals how many mL? - Answers 5 mL
1 tbsp equals how many mL? - Answers 15 mL
1 oz equals how many mL? - Answers 30 mL
1 kg equals how many pounds? - Answers 2.2 lbs
How do you convert °F to °C? - Answers (°F − 32) × 5/9
What is the formula for weight-based dosing? - Answers mg/kg × weight (kg)
Should you use ideal or actual body weight? - Answers Use actual body weight unless told otherwise
Why double-check pediatric doses? - Answers To stay within safe dose range
If a child weighs 15 kg and the dose is 10 mg/kg - Answers what's the total dose?, 10 × 15 = 150 mg
What are IV push meds? - Answers Drugs given directly into vein over specific time
What is titration? - Answers Adjusting dose based on patient response
What must you know to calculate infusion time? - Answers Drug concentration and volume
What is a common drug concentration unit? - Answers mg/mL or mg/tab
What happens if you forget unit conversions? - Answers You give the wrong dose
Why is the drop factor important? - Answers Using the wrong one changes the flow rate
Why must you check safe dose limits? - Answers To avoid overdose or underdose
How can decimals cause harm? - Answers A missed decimal can mean 10× the dose
Why is rushing dangerous? - Answers You may skip checks or miscalculate
What are the 5 Rights of medication? - Answers Right patient, drug, dose, route, time
Why check allergies and contraindications? - Answers To prevent serious reactions
What should you monitor during drug therapy? - Answers Therapeutic effects and side effects
Why educate patients on their meds? - Answers So they know what to expect and when to seek help
Why review renal/liver labs? - Answers These organs clear many drugs—doses may need adjusting
