HESI Dosage Calculations Practice
Exam, Hesi Pharmacology Review 300
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A
LATEST 2023/2024
A client with cardiogenic shock weighs 220 lb and is receiving dopamine at the
rate of 3 mcg/kg/minute. The solution strength available is dopamine 400 mg in
250 ml of D5W. The nurse should set the infusion pump to deliver how many
ml/hour? (Enter numeric value only. If rounding is required, round to the nearest
tenth.) - CORRECT ANSWER 11.3
First, convert pounds to kg, 220 lb : X = 2.2 lb : 1 kg = 100 kg. Next, calculate the
dosage per minute, 3 mcg/kg/min x 100 kg = 300 mcg/min. Convert mcg/min to
mcg/hour, 300 mcg/min x 60 min=18,000 mcg/hour. Convert mcg/hr to mg/hour,
18,000 mcg/hr = 18.0 mg/hour. Calculate the rate, 400 mg : 250 ml = 18 mg : X ml
400X = 4500 X = 11.25 = 11.3 ml. So, 18 mg/11.3 ml should be infused at 11.3
ml/hour.
A client with hypertension who weighs 72.4 kg is receiving an infusion of
nitroprusside (Nipride) 50 mg in D5W 250 ml at 75 ml/hour. How many
mcg/kg/minute is the client receiving? (Enter numeric value only. If rounding is
required, round to the nearest tenth.) - CORRECT ANSWER 3.5
Calculate the mg/hour infusing, 50 mg : 250 ml = X : 75 ml 250X = 3750 and X = 15
mg/hour. Next, convert mg/hr to mcg/hour, 15 mg/hour = 1 mg / 1000 mcg =
15,000 mcg/hour, then divide by 60 min = 250 mcg/minute. Lastly, 250 mcg/72.4
kg/min = 3.45 = 3.5 mcg/kg/minute.
,A client who weighs 70 kg is receiving a dopamine solution of 800 mg/500 ml
normal saline at 5 ml/hour. How many mcg/kg/minute is the client receiving?
(Enter numeric value only. If rounding is required, round to the nearest tenth.) -
CORRECT ANSWER 1.9
To change ml/hour to mcg/kg/minute, use the formula: desired rate (5 ml/hour) /
volume available (500 ml) x dose available (800 mg) = 8 mg/hour. Next, convert
milligrams/hour to mcg/kg/minute: mg (8) x 1000 / kg (70) / 60 minutes = 1.904 =
1.9 mcg/kg/minute.
A client is receiving an IV solution of sodium chloride 0.9% (Normal Saline) 250 ml
with amiodarone (Cordarone) 1 gram at 17 ml/hour. How many mg/minute of
amiodarone is infusing? (Enter numeric value only. If rounding is required, round
to the nearest tenth.) - CORRECT ANSWER Convert grams to mg, 1 gram equals
1,000 mg. Using ratio and proportion - 1,000 mg : 250 ml :: X mg : 1ml 250X=
1,000 so X = 4 mg/ml is the solution concentration of amiodarone. The infusion
rate (ml/hour) x concentration (mg/ml) divided by 60 minutes/hour 17 ml/hour x
4 mg/ml = 68/60 = 1.13 = 1.1 mg/minute.
A client who weighs 176 pounds is receiving an IV infusion with esmolol
hydrochloride (Brevibloc) at 48 ml/hour. The IV solution is labeled with the
concentration of Brevibloc 10 mg/ml. How many mcg/kg/minute is the client
receiving? (Enter numeric value only.) - CORRECT ANSWER 100
Convert pounds to kg by dividing 176 pounds by 2.2 pounds = 80 kg. Convert the
IV concentration from mg to mcg. 1 mg : 1000 mcg :: 10 mg : 10,000 mcg. Infusion
rate (48 ml/hour) x concentration (10,000 mcg/ml) divided by 60 minutes/hour x
80 kg = 48 x 10,000 divided by 60 x 80 = 480, = 100 mcg/kg/minute.
,The nurse is preparing the change-of-shift report for a client who has a 265 ml
secondary infusion that was started 2 hours ago at a rate of 85 ml/hour via an
infusion pump. The nurse should report that how many ml remain to be infused
by the on-coming nurse? (Enter numeric value only.) - CORRECT ANSWER 95
85 ml x 2 hours = 170 ml has infused. 265 ml (total amount to be infused) - 170 ml
(amount infused) = 95 ml remain to be infused.
A male client receives a prescription for ondansetron hydrochloride (Zofran) 4 mg
IV to prevent postoperative nausea after an inguinal hernia repair. The medication
is available in 2 mg/ml. How many ml should the nurse administer? (Enter
numeric value only.) - CORRECT ANSWER 2
Use ratio and proportion, 4 mg : X ml = 2 mg : 1 ml 2X = 4 X = 2
The nurse is preparing to administer Hepatitis B Vaccine, Recombinant (Energix-B)
5 mcg IM to a school-aged child. The vaccine is labeled, 10 mcg/ml. How many ml
should the nurse administer? (Enter numeric value only. If rounding is required,
round to the nearest tenth). - CORRECT ANSWER 1 or 0.5
Use ratio and proportion, 5 mcg : X ml :: 10 mcg : 1ml
10X = 5 X = 0.5 ml
A client's daily PO prescription for aripiprazole (Abilify) is increased from 15 mg to
30 mg. The medication is available in 15 mg tablets, and the client already
received one tablet today. How many additional tablets should the nurse
administer so the client receives the total newly prescribed dose for the day?
(Enter numeric value only.) - CORRECT ANSWER 1
, 30 mg (total dose) - 15 mg (dose already administered) = 15 mg that still needs to
be administered. Using the Desired/Have formula: 15 mg/15 mg = 1 tablet
At the end of the shift, the nurse is recording the fluid balance for a client
receiving a continuous gastrostomy tube (GT) feeding. Based on the client's
records, how many ml should the nurse record for the total fluid balance (intake -
output) for the shift that started at 0700 and ended at 1900? (Enter numeric value
only.) (Click on each image asset for additional information.) - CORRECT ANSWER
695
The tube feeding is administered at 75 ml/hour for 11 hours (0700 - 1800) and
then turned off for one hour because the residual is greater than 200 ml. 11 hours
x 75 ml/hr = 825 ml. Three doses of 20 ml of medication are administered, with 10
ml of water used to flush the GT before and after each dose. 20 ml x 3 doses = 60
ml; 10 ml (flush) x 2 x 3 doses = 60 ml; so 825 ml + 60 ml + 60 ml = 945 ml. 250 ml
of residual is removed and not replaced. 945 ml - 250 ml = 695 ml total fluid
balance (Intake - output).
The nurse is administering a 250 milliliter (ml) intravenous solution to be infused
over 2 hours. How many ml/hour should the nurse program the infusion pump?
(Enter numeric value only.) - CORRECT ANSWER 125
250 ml : 2 hours = X ml : 1 hour 250 = 2X X = 250 divided by 2 = 125 ml/hr
The nurse is preparing to administer 0.25 mg of bumetanide (Bumex) IV. The
medication is available in a vial labeled 1 mg/4 ml. How many ml of medication
should the nurse administer? (Enter numeric value only.) - CORRECT ANSWER 1
Using the Desired/Have x Volume formula: Desired = 0.25 mg Have = 1 mg Volume
= 4 ml 0.25 mg/1 mg x 4 ml = 1 ml
Exam, Hesi Pharmacology Review 300
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A
LATEST 2023/2024
A client with cardiogenic shock weighs 220 lb and is receiving dopamine at the
rate of 3 mcg/kg/minute. The solution strength available is dopamine 400 mg in
250 ml of D5W. The nurse should set the infusion pump to deliver how many
ml/hour? (Enter numeric value only. If rounding is required, round to the nearest
tenth.) - CORRECT ANSWER 11.3
First, convert pounds to kg, 220 lb : X = 2.2 lb : 1 kg = 100 kg. Next, calculate the
dosage per minute, 3 mcg/kg/min x 100 kg = 300 mcg/min. Convert mcg/min to
mcg/hour, 300 mcg/min x 60 min=18,000 mcg/hour. Convert mcg/hr to mg/hour,
18,000 mcg/hr = 18.0 mg/hour. Calculate the rate, 400 mg : 250 ml = 18 mg : X ml
400X = 4500 X = 11.25 = 11.3 ml. So, 18 mg/11.3 ml should be infused at 11.3
ml/hour.
A client with hypertension who weighs 72.4 kg is receiving an infusion of
nitroprusside (Nipride) 50 mg in D5W 250 ml at 75 ml/hour. How many
mcg/kg/minute is the client receiving? (Enter numeric value only. If rounding is
required, round to the nearest tenth.) - CORRECT ANSWER 3.5
Calculate the mg/hour infusing, 50 mg : 250 ml = X : 75 ml 250X = 3750 and X = 15
mg/hour. Next, convert mg/hr to mcg/hour, 15 mg/hour = 1 mg / 1000 mcg =
15,000 mcg/hour, then divide by 60 min = 250 mcg/minute. Lastly, 250 mcg/72.4
kg/min = 3.45 = 3.5 mcg/kg/minute.
,A client who weighs 70 kg is receiving a dopamine solution of 800 mg/500 ml
normal saline at 5 ml/hour. How many mcg/kg/minute is the client receiving?
(Enter numeric value only. If rounding is required, round to the nearest tenth.) -
CORRECT ANSWER 1.9
To change ml/hour to mcg/kg/minute, use the formula: desired rate (5 ml/hour) /
volume available (500 ml) x dose available (800 mg) = 8 mg/hour. Next, convert
milligrams/hour to mcg/kg/minute: mg (8) x 1000 / kg (70) / 60 minutes = 1.904 =
1.9 mcg/kg/minute.
A client is receiving an IV solution of sodium chloride 0.9% (Normal Saline) 250 ml
with amiodarone (Cordarone) 1 gram at 17 ml/hour. How many mg/minute of
amiodarone is infusing? (Enter numeric value only. If rounding is required, round
to the nearest tenth.) - CORRECT ANSWER Convert grams to mg, 1 gram equals
1,000 mg. Using ratio and proportion - 1,000 mg : 250 ml :: X mg : 1ml 250X=
1,000 so X = 4 mg/ml is the solution concentration of amiodarone. The infusion
rate (ml/hour) x concentration (mg/ml) divided by 60 minutes/hour 17 ml/hour x
4 mg/ml = 68/60 = 1.13 = 1.1 mg/minute.
A client who weighs 176 pounds is receiving an IV infusion with esmolol
hydrochloride (Brevibloc) at 48 ml/hour. The IV solution is labeled with the
concentration of Brevibloc 10 mg/ml. How many mcg/kg/minute is the client
receiving? (Enter numeric value only.) - CORRECT ANSWER 100
Convert pounds to kg by dividing 176 pounds by 2.2 pounds = 80 kg. Convert the
IV concentration from mg to mcg. 1 mg : 1000 mcg :: 10 mg : 10,000 mcg. Infusion
rate (48 ml/hour) x concentration (10,000 mcg/ml) divided by 60 minutes/hour x
80 kg = 48 x 10,000 divided by 60 x 80 = 480, = 100 mcg/kg/minute.
,The nurse is preparing the change-of-shift report for a client who has a 265 ml
secondary infusion that was started 2 hours ago at a rate of 85 ml/hour via an
infusion pump. The nurse should report that how many ml remain to be infused
by the on-coming nurse? (Enter numeric value only.) - CORRECT ANSWER 95
85 ml x 2 hours = 170 ml has infused. 265 ml (total amount to be infused) - 170 ml
(amount infused) = 95 ml remain to be infused.
A male client receives a prescription for ondansetron hydrochloride (Zofran) 4 mg
IV to prevent postoperative nausea after an inguinal hernia repair. The medication
is available in 2 mg/ml. How many ml should the nurse administer? (Enter
numeric value only.) - CORRECT ANSWER 2
Use ratio and proportion, 4 mg : X ml = 2 mg : 1 ml 2X = 4 X = 2
The nurse is preparing to administer Hepatitis B Vaccine, Recombinant (Energix-B)
5 mcg IM to a school-aged child. The vaccine is labeled, 10 mcg/ml. How many ml
should the nurse administer? (Enter numeric value only. If rounding is required,
round to the nearest tenth). - CORRECT ANSWER 1 or 0.5
Use ratio and proportion, 5 mcg : X ml :: 10 mcg : 1ml
10X = 5 X = 0.5 ml
A client's daily PO prescription for aripiprazole (Abilify) is increased from 15 mg to
30 mg. The medication is available in 15 mg tablets, and the client already
received one tablet today. How many additional tablets should the nurse
administer so the client receives the total newly prescribed dose for the day?
(Enter numeric value only.) - CORRECT ANSWER 1
, 30 mg (total dose) - 15 mg (dose already administered) = 15 mg that still needs to
be administered. Using the Desired/Have formula: 15 mg/15 mg = 1 tablet
At the end of the shift, the nurse is recording the fluid balance for a client
receiving a continuous gastrostomy tube (GT) feeding. Based on the client's
records, how many ml should the nurse record for the total fluid balance (intake -
output) for the shift that started at 0700 and ended at 1900? (Enter numeric value
only.) (Click on each image asset for additional information.) - CORRECT ANSWER
695
The tube feeding is administered at 75 ml/hour for 11 hours (0700 - 1800) and
then turned off for one hour because the residual is greater than 200 ml. 11 hours
x 75 ml/hr = 825 ml. Three doses of 20 ml of medication are administered, with 10
ml of water used to flush the GT before and after each dose. 20 ml x 3 doses = 60
ml; 10 ml (flush) x 2 x 3 doses = 60 ml; so 825 ml + 60 ml + 60 ml = 945 ml. 250 ml
of residual is removed and not replaced. 945 ml - 250 ml = 695 ml total fluid
balance (Intake - output).
The nurse is administering a 250 milliliter (ml) intravenous solution to be infused
over 2 hours. How many ml/hour should the nurse program the infusion pump?
(Enter numeric value only.) - CORRECT ANSWER 125
250 ml : 2 hours = X ml : 1 hour 250 = 2X X = 250 divided by 2 = 125 ml/hr
The nurse is preparing to administer 0.25 mg of bumetanide (Bumex) IV. The
medication is available in a vial labeled 1 mg/4 ml. How many ml of medication
should the nurse administer? (Enter numeric value only.) - CORRECT ANSWER 1
Using the Desired/Have x Volume formula: Desired = 0.25 mg Have = 1 mg Volume
= 4 ml 0.25 mg/1 mg x 4 ml = 1 ml
