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Dosage Calculation Practice Exam 1, Exams of Nursing

Walden UniversityNursing

Dosage Calculation Practice Exam 1 Dosage Calculation Practice Exam 1

Typology: Exams

2025/2026

Available from 06/04/2026

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Dosage Calculation Practice Exam 1
Questions 1–20: Basic Oral Solid Medications (Tablets & Capsules)
1. The physician orders 500 mg of amoxicillin PO. You have 250 mg
tablets available. How many tablets will you administer?
Answer: 2 tablets
Rationale: 500 mg ÷ 250 mg = 2 tablets.
2. A patient is ordered 0.125 mg of digoxin PO daily. You have 0.25 mg
tablets. How many tablets will you give?
Answer: 0.5 tablet (½ tablet)
Rationale: 0.125 ÷ 0.25 = 0.5 tablet. If the tablet is scored, you may
safely break it.
3. The order is for 1 g of cefuroxime PO. Each tablet contains 500 mg.
How many tablets will you administer?
Answer: 2 tablets
Rationale: Convert 1 g to 1000 mg. 1000 mg ÷ 500 mg = 2 tablets.
4. A patient is ordered 50 mg of metoprolol PO. You have 100 mg
tablets. How many tablets will you give?
Answer: 0.5 tablet (½ tablet)
Rationale: 50 ÷ 100 = 0.5 tablet.
5. The order is for 30 mg of lisinopril PO. Available is 10 mg tablets. How
many tablets will you administer?
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Dosage Calculation Practice Exam 1

Questions 1–20: Basic Oral Solid Medications (Tablets & Capsules)

  1. The physician orders 500 mg of amoxicillin PO. You have 250 mg tablets available. How many tablets will you administer? Answer: 2 tablets Rationale: 500 mg ÷ 250 mg = 2 tablets.
  2. A patient is ordered 0.125 mg of digoxin PO daily. You have 0.25 mg tablets. How many tablets will you give? Answer: 0.5 tablet (½ tablet) Rationale: 0.125 ÷ 0.25 = 0.5 tablet. If the tablet is scored, you may safely break it.
  3. The order is for 1 g of cefuroxime PO. Each tablet contains 500 mg. How many tablets will you administer? Answer: 2 tablets Rationale: Convert 1 g to 1000 mg. 1000 mg ÷ 500 mg = 2 tablets.
  4. A patient is ordered 50 mg of metoprolol PO. You have 100 mg tablets. How many tablets will you give? Answer: 0.5 tablet (½ tablet) Rationale: 50 ÷ 100 = 0.5 tablet.
  5. The order is for 30 mg of lisinopril PO. Available is 10 mg tablets. How many tablets will you administer?

Answer: 3 tablets Rationale: 30 ÷ 10 = 3 tablets.

  1. A patient is ordered 75 mg of clopidogrel PO. You have 75 mg tablets available. How many tablets? Answer: 1 tablet Rationale: 75 ÷ 75 = 1 tablet.
  2. The physician orders 600 mg of ibuprofen PO. Available are 200 mg tablets. How many tablets? Answer: 3 tablets Rationale: 600 ÷ 200 = 3 tablets.
  3. Order: 0.5 g of levetiracetam PO. Each tablet is 500 mg. How many tablets? Answer: 1 tablet Rationale: 0.5 g = 500 mg. 500 ÷ 500 = 1 tablet.
  4. A patient is ordered 20 mg of furosemide PO. You have 40 mg tablets. How many tablets? Answer: 0.5 tablet (½ tablet) Rationale: 20 ÷ 40 = 0.5 tablet.
  5. Order: 250 mg of acetaminophen PO. Available: 500 mg tablets. How many tablets? Answer: 0.5 tablet (½ tablet) Rationale: 250 ÷ 500 = 0.5 tablet.
  6. The order is for 2 mg of warfarin PO. Available: 1 mg tablets. How many tablets? Answer: 2 tablets Rationale: 2 ÷ 1 = 2 tablets.

Answer: 3 capsules Rationale: 300 ÷ 100 = 3 capsules.

  1. Order: 0.25 mg of levothyroxine PO. Each tablet is 0.125 mg. How many tablets? Answer: 2 tablets Rationale: 0.25 ÷ 0.125 = 2 tablets.
  2. A patient is ordered 80 mg of pantoprazole PO. Available: 40 mg tablets. How many tablets? Answer: 2 tablets Rationale: 80 ÷ 40 = 2 tablets. Questions 21–40: Oral Liquid Medications
  3. The physician orders 500 mg of amoxicillin suspension PO. The label reads 250 mg/5 mL. How many mL will you administer? Answer: 10 mL Rationale: (500 mg ÷ 250 mg) × 5 mL = 2 × 5 mL = 10 mL.
  4. Order: 100 mg of ibuprofen suspension PO. Available: 50 mg/1. mL. How many mL? Answer: 2.5 mL Rationale: (100 ÷ 50) × 1.25 = 2 × 1.25 = 2.5 mL.
  5. A patient is ordered 30 mg of lisinopril oral solution. The label reads 10 mg/5 mL. How many mL? Answer: 15 mL Rationale: (30 ÷ 10) × 5 = 3 × 5 = 15 mL.
  1. Order: 125 mg of azithromycin suspension. Available: 200 mg/5 mL. How many mL? Answer: 3.125 mL Rationale: (125 ÷ 200) × 5 = 0.625 × 5 = 3.125 mL. Use a 3 mL or 5 mL syringe.
  2. A child needs 40 mg of prednisolone solution. Available: 15 mg/ mL. How many mL? Answer: 13.33 mL (round to 13.3 mL) Rationale: (40 ÷ 15) × 5 = 2.666 × 5 = 13.33 mL.
  3. Order: 650 mg of acetaminophen suspension. Available: 160 mg/ mL. How many mL? Answer: 20.3 mL (round to 20.3 mL) Rationale: (650 ÷ 160) × 5 = 4.0625 × 5 = 20.3125 mL.
  4. A patient is ordered 75 mg of ranitidine syrup. Available: 15 mg/mL. How many mL? Answer: 5 mL Rationale: 75 ÷ 15 = 5 mL.
  5. Order: 2 g of magnesium hydroxide suspension. Available: 400 mg/ mL. How many mL? Answer: 25 mL Rationale: Convert 2 g to 2000 mg. (2000 ÷ 400) × 5 = 5 × 5 = 25 mL.
  6. A patient is ordered 0.25 mg of digoxin elixir. Available: 0.05 mg/mL. How many mL? Answer: 5 mL Rationale: 0.25 ÷ 0.05 = 5 mL.
  1. Order: 15 mL of liquid medication. How many tablespoons will you instruct the patient to take? Answer: 1 tablespoon Rationale: 1 tbsp = 15 mL.
  2. A patient is ordered 150 mg of oxcarbazepine suspension. Available: 300 mg/10 mL. How many mL? Answer: 5 mL Rationale: (150 ÷ 300) × 10 = 0.5 × 10 = 5 mL.
  3. Order: 250 mg of metronidazole suspension. Available: 125 mg/ mL. How many mL? Answer: 10 mL Rationale: (250 ÷ 125) × 5 = 2 × 5 = 10 mL.
  4. A patient is ordered 0.6 mg of buprenorphine liquid. Available: 0. mg/mL. How many mL? Answer: 2 mL Rationale: 0.6 ÷ 0.3 = 2 mL.
  5. Order: 1 tablespoon of medication. How many mL will the patient take? Answer: 15 mL Rationale: 1 tablespoon = 15 mL. Questions 41–60: Injectable Medications (IV and IM)
  6. The order is for 50 mg of meperidine IM. You have a vial labeled 100 mg/mL. How many mL will you draw up? Answer: 0.5 mL Rationale: 50 mg ÷ 100 mg/mL = 0.5 mL.
  1. A patient is ordered 250 mg of ceftriaxone IM. The vial is reconstituted to 350 mg/mL. How many mL? Answer: 0.71 mL (round to 0.7 mL) Rationale: 250 ÷ 350 = 0.714 mL.
  2. Order: 10 mg of morphine IV push. Available: 10 mg/mL. How many mL? Answer: 1 mL Rationale: 10 ÷ 10 = 1 mL.
  3. A patient is ordered 0.5 mg of atropine IV. Available: 0.4 mg/mL. How many mL? Answer: 1.25 mL Rationale: 0.5 ÷ 0.4 = 1.25 mL.
  4. Order: 40 mg of furosemide IV push. Available: 10 mg/mL. How many mL? Answer: 4 mL Rationale: 40 ÷ 10 = 4 mL.
  5. A patient is ordered 500 mg of levofloxacin IV. Available: 25 mg/mL. How many mL? Answer: 20 mL Rationale: 500 ÷ 25 = 20 mL.
  6. Order: 2.5 mg of haloperidol IM. Available: 5 mg/mL. How many mL? Answer: 0.5 mL Rationale: 2.5 ÷ 5 = 0.5 mL.
  7. A patient is ordered 120 mg of gentamicin IM. Available: 40 mg/mL. How many mL?
  1. Order: 30 mg of ketorolac IM. Available: 60 mg/2 mL. How many mL? Answer: 1 mL Rationale: (30 ÷ 60) × 2 = 0.5 × 2 = 1 mL.
  2. A patient is ordered 0.4 mg of naloxone IV. Available: 0.4 mg/mL. How many mL? Answer: 1 mL Rationale: 0.4 ÷ 0.4 = 1 mL.
  3. Order: 100 mg of phenobarbital IM. Available: 130 mg/mL. How many mL? Answer: 0.77 mL (round to 0.8 mL) Rationale: 100 ÷ 130 = 0.769 mL.
  4. A patient is ordered 125 mg of methylprednisolone IM. Available: 40 mg/mL. How many mL? Answer: 3.125 mL (round to 3.1 mL) Rationale: 125 ÷ 40 = 3.125 mL.
  5. Order: 2 mg of lorazepam IM. Available: 4 mg/mL. How many mL? Answer: 0.5 mL Rationale: 2 ÷ 4 = 0.5 mL.
  6. A patient is ordered 1.2 million units of penicillin G IM. Vial is 2. million units/4 mL. How many mL? Answer: 2 mL Rationale: (1.2 ÷ 2.4) × 4 = 0.5 × 4 = 2 mL. Questions 61–80: IV Flow Rates (gtt/min and mL/hr)
  1. An IV is ordered to infuse 1000 mL over 8 hours. The drop factor is 15 gtt/mL. Calculate the flow rate in gtt/min. Answer: 31 gtt/min Rationale: (1000 mL × 15 gtt/mL) ÷ (8 h × 60 min/h) = 15,000 ÷ 480 = 31.25 ≈ 31 gtt/min.
  2. Order: 500 mL NS over 4 hours. Drop factor: 20 gtt/mL. Calculate gtt/min. Answer: 42 gtt/min Rationale: (500 × 20) ÷ (4 × 60) = 10,000 ÷ 240 = 41.66 ≈ 42 gtt/min.
  3. A patient is to receive 150 mL/hr of IV fluids. The drop factor is 10 gtt/mL. What is the gtt/min? Answer: 25 gtt/min Rationale: (150 mL/hr × 10 gtt/mL) ÷ 60 min/hr = 1500 ÷ 60 = 25 gtt/min.
  4. Order: 1000 mL D5W over 12 hours. Drop factor: 15 gtt/mL. Calculate gtt/min. Answer: 21 gtt/min Rationale: (1000 × 15) ÷ (12 × 60) = 15,000 ÷ 720 = 20.83 ≈ 21 gtt/min.
  5. An IV is running at 30 gtt/min. Drop factor is 15 gtt/mL. How many mL/hr is the patient receiving? Answer: 120 mL/hr Rationale: (30 gtt/min × 60 min/hr) ÷ 15 gtt/mL = 1800 ÷ 15 = 120 mL/hr.
  6. Order: 250 mL of packed red blood cells over 2 hours. Drop factor: 10 gtt/mL. Calculate gtt/min. Answer: 21 gtt/min Rationale: (250 × 10) ÷ (2 × 60) = 2500 ÷ 120 = 20.83 ≈ 21 gtt/min.

Answer: 5 hours Rationale: 250 ÷ 50 = 5 hours.

  1. Order: 500 mL of 0.9% NaCl to infuse at 125 mL/hr. What is the infusion time? Answer: 4 hours Rationale: 500 ÷ 125 = 4 hours.
  2. An IV is ordered at 80 mL/hr. The drop factor is 15 gtt/mL. How many gtt/min? Answer: 20 gtt/min Rationale: (80 × 15) ÷ 60 = 1200 ÷ 60 = 20 gtt/min.
  3. Order: 250 mL to infuse over 90 minutes. Drop factor: 10 gtt/mL. Calculate gtt/min. Answer: 28 gtt/min Rationale: (250 × 10) ÷ 90 = 2500 ÷ 90 = 27.77 ≈ 28 gtt/min.
  4. A patient receives 1 L of IV fluid over 10 hours. The drop factor is 20 gtt/mL. What is the rate in gtt/min? Answer: 33 gtt/min Rationale: (1000 × 20) ÷ (10 × 60) = 20,000 ÷ 600 = 33.33 ≈ 33 gtt/min.
  5. An IV is running at 25 gtt/min using a 15 gtt/mL set. How many mL/hr? Answer: 100 mL/hr Rationale: (25 × 60) ÷ 15 = 1500 ÷ 15 = 100 mL/hr.
  6. Order: 800 mL over 16 hours. Drop factor: 10 gtt/mL. Calculate gtt/min. Answer: 8 gtt/min Rationale: (800 × 10) ÷ (16 × 60) = 8000 ÷ 960 = 8.33 ≈ 8 gtt/min.
  1. A microdrip set (60 gtt/mL) is used to infuse 125 mL/hr. What is the gtt/min? Answer: 125 gtt/min Rationale: (125 × 60) ÷ 60 = 125 gtt/min (on a microdrip, mL/hr = gtt/min). Questions 81–100: Weight-Based, Safe Dose, and Pediatric Calculations
  2. A patient weighs 70 kg. The order is for dopamine 5 mcg/kg/min. The concentration is 400 mg in 250 mL D5W. What is the infusion rate in mL/hr? Answer: 13.1 mL/hr Rationale: Dose = 5 × 70 = 350 mcg/min. Convert to mg: 0.35 mg/min. Concentration = 400 mg/250 mL = 1.6 mg/mL. Rate mL/min = 0.35 ÷ 1. = 0.21875. ×60 = 13.125 mL/hr.
  3. A child weighs 20 kg. The order is for amoxicillin 40 mg/kg/day divided q8h. The child weighs 20 kg. How many mg per dose? Answer: 267 mg per dose (round to 270 mg) Rationale: 40 × 20 = 800 mg/day. ÷3 doses = 266.67 mg/dose.
  4. A patient weighs 154 lb. The order is for heparin 80 units/kg IV bolus. How many units will the patient receive? Answer: 5600 units Rationale: 154 lb ÷ 2.2 = 70 kg. 70 × 80 = 5600 units.
  5. The safe dose range for a medication is 10–20 mg/kg/day in divided doses q8h. The child weighs 15 kg. What is the maximum safe dose per day?
  1. The safe dose for a drug is 2-4 mg/kg/day. Patient weighs 50 kg. What is the safe daily range? Answer: 100 mg to 200 mg/day Rationale: 2 ×50 = 100 mg/day (min). 4 ×50 = 200 mg/day (max).
  2. A premature infant weighs 1200 g. The order is for 25 mg/kg of caffeine citrate. How many mg will you give? Answer: 30 mg Rationale: 1200 g = 1.2 kg. 25 ×1.2 = 30 mg.
  3. A patient weighs 176 lb. The order is for milrinone 0.5 mcg/kg/min. Infusion concentration: 20 mg in 100 mL. Calculate mL/hr. Answer: 12 mL/hr Rationale: 176 ÷2.2 = 80 kg. Dose = 0.5 ×80 = 40 mcg/min = 0. mg/min. Concentration = 20 mg/100 mL = 0.2 mg/mL. Rate = 0.04 ÷0. = 0.2 mL/min ×60 = 12 mL/hr.
  4. A child weighs 12 kg. The order is for midazolam 0.1 mg/kg IV. Available: 1 mg/mL. How many mL? Answer: 1.2 mL Rationale: 0.1 ×12 = 1.2 mg. 1.2 mg ÷1 mg/mL = 1.2 mL.
  5. A patient is ordered vancomycin 15 mg/kg IV q8h. Patient weighs 66 kg. What is the dose? Answer: 990 mg (round to 1000 mg) Rationale: 15 ×66 = 990 mg.
  6. The safe range for a drug is 5-10 mg/kg/dose. Child weighs 16 kg. Which of the following orders is safe? Answer: 100 mg per dose Rationale: Min = 5×16=80 mg/dose. Max=10×16=160 mg/dose. 100 mg is within range.
  1. A patient is ordered 40 mEq of potassium chloride IV. Available is 20 mEq/10 mL. How many mL will you draw up? Answer: 20 mL Rationale: (40 ÷20) ×10 = 2 ×10 = 20 mL.
  2. A child weighs 13.5 kg. The order is for acyclovir 500 mg/m². BSA (from nomogram) = 0.55 m². How many mg? Answer: 275 mg Rationale: 500 mg/m² ×0.55 m² = 275 mg.
  3. An infant weighs 3.5 kg. The order is for ampicillin 50 mg/kg IV q6h. What is the per dose amount? Answer: 175 mg Rationale: 50 ×3.5 = 175 mg/dose.
  4. A patient is receiving dopamine at 10 mL/hr. Concentration is 800 mg in 500 mL. Patient weighs 80 kg. What is the dose in mcg/kg/min? Answer: 3.33 mcg/kg/min Rationale: Concentration = 800 ÷500 = 1.6 mg/mL. Rate = 10 mL/hr = 10 ×1.6 = 16 mg/hr. 16 ÷80 = 0.2 mg/kg/hr = 200 mcg/kg/hr ÷60 = 3. mcg/kg/min.
  5. The safe dose for a drug is 50 mcg/kg/dose. The patient weighs 99 lb. What is the safe dose in mg? Answer: 2.25 mg Rationale: 99 ÷2.2 = 45 kg. 45 ×50 = 2250 mcg = 2.25 mg. This comprehensive set covers the major dosage calculation types tested in nursing fundamentals and NCLEX. Key formulas to memorize: