Deck 9: Calculating Drug Dosages

Question 1

A child's BSA is 0.9 m².The prescribed dose of medication is 2 mg/m².Which of the following is the calculated dosage?

A) 2 mg
B) 0.5 mg
C) 1.8 mg
D) 1 mg

Answer 1

1.8 mg

Question 2

Ordered is codeine 1 gr PO;it is available in 30-mg tablets.Which of the following represents the number of tablets the patient should get?

A) 1.5 tablets
B) 1.2 tablets
C) 3 tablets
D) 2 tablets

Answer 2

2 tablets

Question 3

Demerol 75 mg is ordered IV push q 4 to 6 hours PRN for pain.This medication is available in 100 mg/mL.Which of the following represents the amount (in mL)that the nurse will give every 4 to 6 hours as needed?

A) 0.75 mL
B) 75 mL
C) 0.15 mL
D) 0.26 mL

Answer 3

0.75 mL

Question 4

A doctor has ordered a dose of Synthroid of 0.15 mg daily for a patient.The nurse learns that the pharmacy only stocks 50 mcg scored tablets.Which of the following represents the correct number of 50 mcg Synthroid tablets to give this patient?

A) 1 1/2 tablets
B) 2 whole tablets
C) 3 whole tablets
D) 3/4 tablet

Question 5

When the usual dose of a medication for a 150 lb adult is 500 mg,which of the following,according to Clark's rule,is the dose for a child weighing 65 lb?

A) 98 mg
B) 117 mg
C) 200 mg
D) 217 mg

Question 6

The nurse prepares to administer an IV piggyback of 75 mL of medication to infuse in 30 minutes with an infusion set of 35 gtt/mL.The gtt/min should be set at which of the following rates?

A) 42 gtt/min
B) 44 gtt/min
C) 87.5 gtt/min
D) 88 gtt/min

Question 7

Which of the following represents the flow rate in drops/minute for the IV order: 1000 mL of NS over 12 hours using a 60 gtt/mL infusion set?

A) 83 gtt/min
B) 73 gtt/min
C) 63 gtt/min
D) 53 gtt/min

Question 8

An elixir is ordered for a patient as 0.6 g every 4 hours.The medicine is available as 80 mg/5 mL.Which of the following represents the amount that the nurse will give per dose?

A) 3.75 mL
B) 7.5 mL
C) 28 mL
D) 37.5 mL

Question 9

The physician orders Demerol 50 mg IV every 2 hours PRN for pain.The medication comes in a single-dose ampule with 75 mg/mL.Which of the following represents the amount that the nurse will give the patient?

A) 1.5 mL
B) 0.50 mL
C) 0.66 mL
D) 1.2 mL

Question 10

Which of the following represents the flow rate in drops/minute for the IV order: 125 mL/hr of D₅W using a 15 gtt/mL infusion set?

A) 8 gtt/min
B) 18 gtt/min
C) 31 gtt/min
D) 36 gtt/min

Question 11

If Phenergan is available in 100 mg/2 mL ampules,which of the following represents the amount needed in milliliters to give a dose of 12.5 mg IM?

A) 0.20 mL
B) 0.25 mL
C) 0.50 mL
D) 0.75 mL

Question 12

Parenteral medications come in different forms.Which of the following are considered parenteral medications? (Select all that apply. )

A) Prefilled syringe
B) Single-dose ampule
C) Multidose vial
D) Bottle volume pack

Question 13

Valium 2.5 mg is ordered PO three times daily.The medication comes in 5-mg tablets.Which of the following represents the portion of the 5-mg tablet that the nurse will administer to the patient?

A) 1/4 tablet
B) 1/3 tablet
C) 1/2 tablet
D) 3/4 tablet

Question 14

The order reads: Lanoxin 0.125 mg PO now.The medication is available in 0.25 mg tablets.Which of the following represents the number of tablets the nurse will give?

A) 2 tablets
B) 1/2 tablet
C) 1 1/2 tablets
D) 1/4 tablet

Question 15

A nurse receives an order to administer 8 units regular insulin and 20 units NPH insulin before breakfast.Using a U-100 syringe,the nurse would prepare this dose in which of the following ways?

A) Drawing up 8 units NPH,then 20 units regular in the same syringe
B) Drawing up 8 units regular in one syringe,and 20 units NPH in a separate syringe
C) Drawing up 8 units regular,then 20 units NPH in the same syringe
D) Giving the 20 units NPH insulin 15 minutes before food,and the 8 units of regular when the food arrives

Question 16

The nurse observes that there is 650 mL of IV fluid remaining in the bag,and the rate is 90 mL/hr.The drop factor on the infusion set is 60 gtt/mL.Which of the following represents how long the IV will last?

A) 6 hours and 28 minutes
B) 6 hours and 45 minutes
C) 7 hours and 13 minutes
D) 7 hours and 17 minutes

Question 17

Place the following steps in the correct order for performing a dosage calculation.

A)Calculate the dosage.
B)Change the dosages to the same unit of measurement.
C)Use common sense.
D)Reduce to the simplest terms.