NCLEX Dosage Calculations

Question 1

A prescriber orders 0.25 mg of digoxin PO. The available tablets are 125 mcg each. How many tablets should the nurse administer?

Accepted Answer

2 tablets

Answer

Convert 0.25 mg to 250 mcg (1 mg = 1000 mcg). Then 250 mcg ÷ 125 mcg per tablet = 2 tablets.

Question 2

A prescriber orders 1,000 mL of 0.9% NaCl to infuse over 8 hours. The drop factor is 15 gtt/mL. How many drops per minute should the nurse set? (Round to the nearest whole number.)

Accepted Answer

31 gtt/min

Answer

Drip rate = (volume × drop factor) ÷ time in minutes = (1000 × 15) ÷ 480 = 31.25, which rounds to 31 gtt/min.

Question 3

A child weighs 22 lb. The prescribed dose of a medication is 15 mg/kg/day divided into 3 equal doses. How many mg should the nurse give per dose?

Accepted Answer

50 mg

Answer

22 lb ÷ 2.2 = 10 kg. 10 kg × 15 mg = 150 mg/day. 150 mg ÷ 3 doses = 50 mg per dose.

Question 4

The prescriber orders heparin 1,200 units/hour IV. The bag contains 25,000 units in 500 mL of D5W. At what rate in mL/hour should the nurse set the pump?

Accepted Answer

24 mL/hour

Answer

The concentration is 25,000 units ÷ 500 mL = 50 units/mL. The rate is 1,200 units/hour ÷ 50 units/mL = 24 mL/hour.

Question 5

A prescriber orders furosemide 40 mg IV push. The vial contains 10 mg/mL. How many milliliters should the nurse draw up?

Accepted Answer

4 mL

Answer

Volume = desired dose ÷ concentration = 40 mg ÷ 10 mg/mL = 4 mL.

NCLEX Practice Test

NCLEX Practice Test

NCLEX Dosage Calculations