QMAP Dosage Calculation and Measurement

Question 1

A physician orders 0.5 grams of a medication for a resident. The medication is only available in 250 mg tablets. How many tablets should the QMAP administer?

Accepted Answer

2 tablets

Answer

The order is in grams, but the tablets are in milligrams. First, convert grams to milligrams. There are 1,000 milligrams (mg) in 1 gram (g). Therefore, 0.5 g is equal to 500 mg (0.5 x 1000). Next, divide the required dose (500 mg) by the strength of each tablet (250 mg), which equals 2. (500 mg / 250 mg = 2).

Question 2

The Medication Administration Record (MAR) directs you to administer 15 mL of a liquid oral medication. Which of the following is the correct equivalent measurement to use?

Accepted Answer

1 tablespoon

Answer

In medication measurement, 1 tablespoon (Tbsp) is equivalent to 15 milliliters (mL). A teaspoon (tsp) is 5 mL, and an ounce (oz) is 30 mL. Therefore, 15 mL is correctly measured as 1 tablespoon.

Question 3

A resident has an order for a liquid medication with a dose of 300 mg. The medication's label states the strength is '100 mg per 5 mL'. How many milliliters (mL) should the QMAP pour?

Accepted Answer

15 mL

Answer

This is a ratio and proportion problem. You know that 5 mL contains 100 mg. You need to administer 300 mg. Set up the equation: (100 mg / 5 mL) = (300 mg / X mL). To find X, you can see that 300 mg is 3 times 100 mg, so you need 3 times the volume: 3 x 5 mL = 15 mL.

Question 4

When administering medications, the metric system is preferred over the household system primarily because it is:

Accepted Answer

A more standardized and accurate system

Answer

The metric system (using mg, g, mL, L) is a decimal-based system that is standardized globally, leading to greater accuracy and fewer errors. Household measures, like teaspoons and tablespoons, can vary in size, making them less precise for medication administration.

Question 5

A physician's order states to give a resident 1 ounce of a liquid medication. The medication cup is marked only in milliliters (mL). How many mL should the QMAP pour to administer the correct dose?

Accepted Answer

30 mL

Answer

The standard medical conversion is 1 ounce (oz) is equivalent to 30 milliliters (mL).

QMAP - Qualified Medication Administration Person Practice Test

QMAP - Qualified Medication Administration Person Practice Test

QMAP Dosage Calculation and Measurement