MACE - Medication Aide Certification Examination Dosage Calculation and Measurement Questions and Answers 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A physician orders 30 mL of a liquid antacid for a resident. The medication cup available is calibrated in tablespoons. How many tablespoons should the Medication Aide administer?
- 1 tablespoon
- 2 tablespoons (Correct answer)
- 3 tablespoons
- 4 tablespoons
Correct answer: 2 tablespoons
The standard medical conversion is 1 tablespoon (tbsp) equals 15 milliliters (mL). Therefore, to administer 30 mL, the Medication Aide would need to give 2 tablespoons (30 mL / 15 mL/tbsp = 2 tbsp).
Question 2: A medication order is for 0.5 grams of a drug. The pharmacy supplies tablets that are 250 mg each. How many tablets should be administered to the resident?
- 1 tablet
- 4 tablets
- 0.5 tablets (half a tablet)
- 2 tablets (Correct answer)
Correct answer: 2 tablets
First, convert grams to milligrams. There are 1000 mg in 1 gram, so 0.5 grams is equal to 500 mg (0.5 g * 1000 mg/g). Next, divide the desired dose (500 mg) by the strength of the available tablets (250 mg). 500 mg / 250 mg/tablet = 2 tablets.
Question 3: When preparing to administer 4 mL of a liquid cough syrup, which of the following is the MOST accurate measuring device to use?
- A standard medicine cup marked in 5 mL increments
- A household teaspoon
- An oral syringe marked in 0.2 mL increments (Correct answer)
- A calibrated dropper that is not specific to the medication
Correct answer: An oral syringe marked in 0.2 mL increments
For small liquid volumes, an oral syringe provides the most accuracy and is the recommended device. A medicine cup's markings are too far apart for a precise 4 mL dose, and a household teaspoon is not a calibrated medical device and can vary in size. A non-specific dropper is also not standardized for accurate dosing.
Question 4: The Medication Administration Record (MAR) directs you to administer a medication "2 gtt OD". What does this order mean?
- Administer 2 grams into the left eye.
- Administer 2 drops once daily into the right eye. (Correct answer)
- Administer 2 drops into the right ear.
- Administer 2 milliliters once daily into the right eye.
Correct answer: Administer 2 drops once daily into the right eye.
The abbreviation "gtt" stands for the Latin word guttae, meaning drops. "OD" is the Latin abbreviation for oculus dexter, meaning right eye. Therefore, the order is to administer 2 drops into the right eye once a day.
Question 5: A resident's weight is recorded as 70 kg. To calculate a weight-based dose, this weight must be converted to pounds (lbs). What is the resident's approximate weight in pounds?
- 154 lbs (Correct answer)
- 32 lbs
- 120 lbs
- 70 lbs
Correct answer: 154 lbs
The conversion factor is that 1 kilogram (kg) is approximately equal to 2.2 pounds (lbs). To convert kilograms to pounds, you multiply the weight in kg by 2.2. Therefore, 70 kg * 2.2 lbs/kg = 154 lbs.
Question 6: A medication order states: "Administer 125 mg of a liquid medication." The concentration available from the pharmacy is 250 mg per 5 mL. How many milliliters (mL) should the Medication Aide pour?
- 5 mL
- 10 mL
- 2.5 mL (Correct answer)
- 1.5 mL
Correct answer: 2.5 mL
Using the 'Desired Over Have' formula: (Desired Dose / Dose on Hand) x Quantity = Amount to administer. (125 mg / 250 mg) x 5 mL = 0.5 x 5 mL = 2.5 mL. The desired dose (125 mg) is half of the available concentration's strength (250 mg), so you need half of the liquid volume (5 mL).
