Deck 6: Safe Dosage Calculations

Question 1

When calculating doses, what should you do with fractions?

A) Use whatever method the physician orders
B) Round to two decimal places
C) The method depends on the specific circumstances.
D) Round to one decimal place

Answer 1

Round to one decimal place

Question 2

When calculating dosages, you should remember that ____.

A) close enough is good enough if there is no alternative
B) using good judgment is important if you must make substitutions
C) there is no acceptable margin of error in medication administration
D) the math involved is complex and requires a high level of aptitude

Answer 2

there is no acceptable margin of error in medication administration

Question 3

The first step in dosage calculation is to ____.

A) write the problem in equation form
B) determine whether an easier dosage is possible
C) check to see whether all the measures are in the same system
D) identify the age of the patient to make pediatric adjustments if needed

Answer 3

check to see whether all the measures are in the same system

Question 4

In the basic method formula, OH refers to the ____.

A) observed dose
B) dose that is available
C) ordered dose
D) predicted dose

Question 5

An order calls for 800 mg of ibuprofen and you have tablets that contain 200 mg of ibuprofen.If you use the basic method, what is Q?

A) total number of capsules
B) one tablet
C) 200 mg
D) 800 mg

Question 6

In the basic method formula, Q refers to the ____.

A) quantity of the desired dose
B) conversion factor
C) ratio of the desired to the available dose
D) quantity of the on-hand dose

Question 7

You know that there are 1000 grams in a kilogram.You know that a particular infant weighs 3400 grams.To determine the weight in kg, the ratio and proportion method should be set up as follows: ____.

A) 1000 g : 3400 g = 1 kg : X kg
B) 1000 g : 1 kg = 3400 g : X kg
C) 3400 g : 1 kg = X kg : 1000 g
D) Not enough information has been provided.

Question 8

An order calls for 6 mg of melatonin and you have tablets that contain 2 mg of melatonin.If you use the basic method, what is D?

A) total number of capsules
B) 6 mg
C) 2 mg
D) one tablet

Question 9

An order calls for 300 mg of diphenhydramine and you have capsules that contain 75 mg of diphenhydramine.If you use the basic method, what is OH?

A) Total number of capsules
B) 75 mg
C) 300 mg
D) 1 capsule

Question 10

In the ratio and proportion method, the ratio between the dose on hand and the known quantity is equal to the ratio between the desired dose and the ____.

A) unknown unit
B) unknown quantity
C) unknown dose on-hand
D) unknown dose

Question 11

In the basic method formula, D refers to the ____.

A) desired dose
B) available dose
C) predicted dose
D) dose on hand

Question 12

The order reads Ampicillin 0.5 g.The unit dose packet reads 250 mg/cap.If you use the basic calculation method, what is D?

A) .25 g
B) 250 mg
C) 500 mg
D) 0.5 g

Question 13

When using computational formulas, you should ____.

A) be as brief and concise as possible
B) rely on your memory
C) write out and label all parts of the formula
D) do the computation in your head if possible

Question 14

The preoperative order reads Demerol 60 mg IM on call.The narcotics drawer contains vials labeled meperidine (Demerol) 100 mg/2 mL.How should this be set up in the ratio and proportion method?

A) 60 mg : 100 mg = 2 mL : X mL
B) X mL : 2 mL = 100 mg : 60 mg
C) 100 mg : 2 mL = 60 mg : X mL
D) 2 mL : 60 mg = 100 mg : X mL

Question 15

A trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole suspension contains 40 mg/5 mL.The order is for 120 mg.If you use the ratio and proportion method, the formula should be set up as follows: ____.

A) 120 mg : 40 mg = 5 mL : X mL
B) 40 mg : X mL = 120 mg : 5 mL
C) 5 mL : 120 mg : 40 mg : X mL
D) 40 mg : 5 mL = 120 mg : X mL

Question 16

The order calls for 1 ounce of rehydration fluid per hour.On hand is a solution that contains 200 grams per liter.Your first step should be to ____.

A) convert to the same measurement system
B) decide how to set up the equation
C) round to one decimal point
D) determine whether the ordered amount is reasonable

Question 17

You have completed calculations and determined that the dosage of the medication should be three tablets per hour.What should your next step be?

A) Ask yourself whether this dose seems reasonable.
B) Dispense the medication.
C) Ask the doctor whether the dosage is acceptable.
D) Look up the doses that other patients have been given.

Question 18

The narcotics drawer contains vials of meperidine (Demerol) labeled 75 mg in 1 mL.The preoperative order reads Demerol 60 mg IM on call.If you use the basic calculation method, what is OH?

A) 1 mL
B) 60 mg
C) 75 mL
D) 75 mg

Question 19

Dosage calculations require meticulous care and ____.

A) the ability to do mathematical proofs
B) an understanding of statistics
C) a working knowledge of derivatives
D) a working knowledge of basic arithmetic

Question 20

The ratio and proportion method relies on the ____.

A) use of conversion factors
B) ability to estimate
C) equality of two proportions
D) equality of two ratios

Question 21

Evaluation of the appropriateness of dosages for elderly persons should ____.

A) reflect reimbursement requirements
B) be based on the clinician's experience
C) rely on the information in the drug insert
D) be done on an individual basis

Question 22

When using the basic method, you should use the same label for the ____.

A) on-hand dose and the quantity of on-hand dose
B) quantity of on-hand dose, the on-hand dose, and the desired dose
C) desired dose and the quantity of on-hand dose
D) desired and on-hand doses

Question 23

When calculating dosages for children, you should remember that ____.

A) the physiology of children is virtually the same as that of adults
B) you can typically give half of the adult dose safely
C) children are essentially miniature adults
D) the pediatric dosages in drug inserts are a good reference

Question 24

The phrase "never leave a decimal point naked" refers to ____.

A) using decimals rather than whole numbers and writing 0.3 rather than 300
B) putting a zero in front of a decimal point and writing 0.3 rather than .3
C) rounding to one decimal place instead of two decimal places
D) putting a decimal point and a zero after a whole number and writing 5.0 rather than 5

Question 25

When using the ratio and proportion method, you should remember that ____.

A) the terms of the second ratio must be in the same sequence as those in the first ratio
B) multiply the inside terms (means) and then the outside terms (extremes)
C) the ratio on the right contains the known quantities and the ratio on the left includes the unknown quantity
D) either fractions or decimals may be used in the calculation