Medical Dosage
Calculation Practice
MEMORIZE these conversions:
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1 oz= 30ml
1 tsp= 5ml
1 tbsp= 15ml
1 Cup=8 oz
2.2 lb = 1 kg
Metric conversions: 1gm=1000mg, mcg to gm,
etc.
• After fundamentals course- will need to know
how to calculate IV drip rates
Basic Directions
• Read each question carefully
• Often there is more than one step to figure out the
answer
• Questions may have more info than you need to get
the answer
• Show your work
• Determine what your goal is, especially to what unit
the answer is supposed to be in- i.e. -is it asking for the
per dose amount or daily amount, for number of mg
or number tablets, etc. in the answer?
• Look at the answer and see if it makes sense-i.e.-rarely
will you be giving someone 80 pills.
Resources
• Read Potter & Perry, Fundamentals of Nursing,
8th edition, pages 574 to 577.
• Purchase a dosage calculation book or
program for nurses.
• Go on line, search “medication dosage
calculations” for resources on line.
• Use basic algebra solving equations
Practice Questions
Answers at end… Good luck!
#1
A client has an order for 125mcg of digoxin PO
daily. How many milligrams will you
administer to the client?
#2
A patient’s order for heparin is 50units/kg and
the patient weighs 198 pounds. How many
units of Heparin will the patient receive?
#3
The doctor has just order IV fluids of 1,000ml
D5W with 20mEq Potassium to be infused
over an 8 hour period. At what rate would
you set the IV pump?
#4
The order reads Isoniazid 300mg daily. The
pharmacy supplies Isoniazid syrup 50mg/5ml.
The nurse should administer _______ml per
dose.
#5
The patient is to receive Celestone 900
micrograms. You have a bottle of Celestone
labeled 0.6mg/tablet. The patient will receive
how many tablet(s) per dose?
#6
How many milliliters of cough syrup should a
child receive if the dose is 3 ounces and the
child’s weight is 27kg?
#7
Your patient’s order reads 7,500units of Heparin
subcutaneously. Heparin comes in a 2ml vial
of 5,000units/ml. How many milliliters of
Heparin do you give the patient?
#8
Order: Ancef 1g/50ml IVPB Q4H, infuse over 30
minutes.
IV tubing is labeled 20 drops/ml.
Calculate the flow rate in drops per minute for
this antibiotic.
#9
The MD orders Haldol 2mg by IM injection. You
have a vial of Haldol labeled 5mg per 1ml.
How many ml(s) would you administer?
#10
The patient is to receive Gantrisin 50mg/kg daily
in 4 divided doses. The patient weighs 44
pounds. How many mg(s) would the patient
receive for a single dose?
Answers
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
9)
10)
0.125mg
4,500 units
125ml/hr
30ml per dose.
1.5 tablets
90mls
1.5mls
33.3 gtt/min.
0.4ml
250mg/dose.