2023 ATI RN Dosage Calculation Medical Surgical Practice Exam
Assessment 3.0
1. A nurse is preparing to administer cefazolin 500mg IM every 12 hr. Available is cefazolin
injection 330 mg/mL. How many Ml should the nurse administer per dose? (Round the
answer to the nearest tenth. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero)
Answer: Follow these steps for the Ratio and Proportion method of calculation:
Step 1: What is the unit of measurement the nurse should calculate? mL
Step 2: What is the dose the nurse should administer? Dose to administer
2. A nurse is preparing to administer phenytoin 5mg/kg/day PO divided equally every 8 hr to
a client who weighs 132 lbs. Available is phenytoin 100 mg capsules. How many capsules
should the nurse administer per dose? (Round the answer to the nearest whole number. Use a
leading zero if ti applies. Do not use a trailing zero.)
Answer: Follow these steps for the Ratio and Proportion method of calculation:
Step 1: What is the unit of measurement the nurse should calculate? Kg
Step 2: Set up an equation and solve for X
First, convert the client's weight from pounds to kilograms:
132 lb ÷ 2.2 = 60 kg.
Next, calculate the total daily dose of phenytoin:
5 mg/kg/day × 60 kg = 300 mg/day.
Now, divide the total daily dose by the number of doses (3 doses in 24 hours):
300 mg/day ÷ 3 = 100 mg/dose.
Determine how many capsules to administer based on the available strength:
100 mg ÷ 100 mg/capsule = 1 capsule.
The nurse should administer 1 capsule of phenytoin per dose.
3. A nurse is preparing to administer lactated Ringer’s (LR) 600 mL IV to infuse over 5 hr.
The drop factor of the manual IV tubing is 20 gtt/mL. nurse should set the manual IV
infusion to deliver how many gtt/min? (Round the answer to the nearest whole number. Use a
leading zero applies. Do not use a trailing zero.)
Answer: 40gtt/min
Follow these steps to calculate the infusion rate using the Ratio and Proportion method of
calculation:
Step 1: What is the unit of measurement the nurse should calculate? Gtt/min
Step 2: What is the volume the nurse should infuse? 600 mL
Step 3: What is the total infusion time? 5 hr
Step 4: Should the nurse convert the units of measurement? Yes (hr does not equal min)
First, calculate the total infusion time in minutes:
5 hr × 60 min/hr = 300 min.
Next, determine the total gtt to be delivered:
600 mL × 20 gtt/mL = 12,000 gtt.
Now, calculate the rate in gtt/min:
12,000 gtt ÷ 300 min = 40 gtt/min.
The nurse should set the manual IV infusion to deliver 40 gtt/min.
4. A nurse is preparing to administer enoxaparin 30 mg subcutaneous to a client. Available is
enoxaparin in injection 60 mg/0.6mL. How many mL should the nurse administer? (Round
the answer to the nearest tenth. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.)
Answer: Follow these steps for the Ratio and Proportion method of calculation:
Step 1: What is the unit of measurement the nurse should calculate? mL
Step 2: What is the dose the nurse should administer? Dose to administer = Desired 30 mg
Step 3: What is the dose available? Dose Available = Have 60 mg
Step 4: Should the nurse convert the units of measurement? No
Step 5: What is the quantity of the dose available? 0.6 mL
First, determine the concentration of enoxaparin in mg/mL:
60 mg ÷ 0.6 mL = 100 mg/mL.
Next, calculate the volume needed for a 30 mg dose:
30 mg ÷ 100 mg/mL = 0.3 mL.
The nurse should administer 0.3 mL of enoxaparin.
5. A nurse is preparing to administer phenytoin 15 mg/kg IV to a client who weighs 154 lb.
Available is phenytoin 50mg/mL. How many mL should the nurse administer? (Round the
answer to the nearest whole number. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing
zero.)
Answer: 21mL
Follow these steps for the Ratio and Proportion method of calculation:
Step 1: What is the unit of measurement the nurse should calculate? Kg
Step 2: Set up an equation and solve for X
6. A nurse is preparing to administer 15 mL if codeine PO to a client. The nurse should
identify that 15 mL us equivalent to which of the following measurements?
Answer: The nurse should identify that, when converting metric units of measurements to
household units, 5 mL is equal to 1 tsp; 15 mL is equal to 3 tsp.
Incorrect: The nurse should identify that, when converting metric units of measurements to
household units, 45 mL is equal to 3 Tbsb.
15 mL is equivalent to 1.5 tablespoons (since 1 tablespoon is approximately 15 mL).
Additionally, it is also equivalent to 0.5 ounces (since 1 ounce is approximately 30 mL).
So, the answer could be either 1.5 tablespoons or 0.5 ounces, depending on the context.
7. A nurse in a long-term care facility is preparing to administer rivastigmine 3 mg PO twice
daily to a client who has Aizheimer’s disease. Available is rivastigmine 1.5mg/capsule. How
many capsules should the nurse administer per dose? (Round the answer to the nearest whole
number. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.)
Answer: 2 capsule(s)
Follow these steps for the Ratio and Proportion method of calculation:
Step 1: What is the unit off measurement the nurse should calculate? Capsules(s)
Step 2: What is the dose the nurse should administer? Dose to administer = Desired 3 mg
Step 3: What is the dose available? Dose available = Have 1.5mg
Step 4: Should the nurse convert the units of measurement? No
First, determine the required dose per administration:
3 mg.
Next, find out how many capsules are needed based on the available strength:
3 mg ÷ 1.5 mg/capsule = 2 capsules.
The nurse should administer 2 capsules of rivastigmine per dose.
8. A nurse is preparing to administer diltiazem 0.25mg/kg IV to a client who weighs 176 lb.
Available is diltiazem 5mg/mL. How many mL should the nurse administer? (Round the
answer to the nearest whole number. Usw a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing
zero.)
Answer: 4mL
Follow these steps for the Ratio and Proportion method of calculation:
Step 1: What is the unit of measurement the nurse should calculate? Kg
Step 2: Set up an equation and solve for x.
First, convert the client's weight from pounds to kilograms:
176 lb ÷ 2.2 = 80 kg.
Next, calculate the dose of diltiazem in mg:
0.25 mg/kg × 80 kg = 20 mg.
Now, determine how many mL of the available diltiazem solution to administer:
20 mg ÷ 5 mg/mL = 4 mL.
The nurse should administer 4 mL of diltiazem.
9. A nurse is preparing to administer 0.9% sodium chloride (0.9% of NaCl) 1000 mL IV to
infuse at 125 mL/hr. The drop factor of the manual IV tubing is 15 gtt/mL. The nurse should
set the manual IV infusion to deliver how many gtt/min? (Round the answer to the nearest
whole number. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.)
Answer: 31 gtt/min
Follow these steps to calculate the infusion rate using the Ratio and Proportion method of
calculation:
Step 1: What is the unit of measurement the nurse should calculate? gtt/min
Step 2: What is the volume the nurse should infuse? 125mL
Step 3: What is the total infusion time? 1 hr
Step 4: Should the nurse convert the units of measurement? Yes (hr does not equal min)
First, calculate the total infusion time in minutes:
1000 mL ÷ 125 mL/hr = 8 hr = 480 min.
Next, determine the total gtt to be delivered:
125 mL/hr × 15 gtt/mL = 1875 gtt/hr.
Now, convert gtt/hr to gtt/min:
1875 gtt/hr ÷ 60 min/hr = 31.25 gtt/min.
Rounding to the nearest whole number, the nurse should set the IV infusion to 31 gtt/min.
10. A nurse is providing teaching for a client who has a new prescription for metformin.
According to the medication label below, which of the following instructions should the nurse
include in the teaching?
Answer: The nurse should instruct the client to keep the medication in a light-resistant
container to protect the medication from exposure to light, which can after the potency of the
medication.
11. A nurse is preparing to administer digoxin 0.25 mg PO. Available is digoxin 0.125 mg
tablets. How many tablets should the nurse administer? (Round the answer to the nearest
whole number. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.)
Answer: 2 tablets
Follow these steps for the Ratio and Proportion method of calculation:
Step 1: What is the unit of measurements the nurse should calculate? tablet(s)
Step 2: What is the dose the nurse should administer? Dose to administer = Desired 0.25 mg
Step 3: What is the dose available? Dose available = Have 0.125 mg
Step 4: Should the nurse convert the units of measurement? No
Step 5: What is the quantity of the dose available? 1 tablet
First, determine the total dose needed in mg:
0.25 mg.
Next, find out how many tablets are required based on the available strength:
0.25 mg ÷ 0.125 mg/tablet = 2 tablets.
The nurse should administer 2 tablets of digoxin.
12. A nurse is preparing to administer methylprednisolone 0.05 g IM. Available is
methylprednisolone acetate injection 80mg/mL. How many mL should the nurse administer?
(Round the answer to the nearest hundredth. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a
trailing zero.)
Answer: 0.63mL
Follow theses steps for the Ratio and Proportion method of calculation:
Step 1: What is the unit of measurements the nurse should calculate? mL
Step 2: What is the dose the nurse should administer? Dose to administer = Desired 0.05 g
Step 3: What is the dose available? Dose available = Have 80 mg
Step 4: Should the nurse convert the units of measurement? Yes (g does not equal mg)
First, convert the dose from grams to milligrams:
0.05 g = 50 mg.
Next, determine how many mL of the available solution is needed:
50 mg ÷ 80 mg/mL = 0.625 mL.
Rounding to the nearest hundredth, the nurse should administer 0.63 mL of
methylprednisolone.
13. A nurse is preparing to administer metociopramide 10mg PO every 6 hr. Available is
metociopramide 5mg tablets. How many tablets should the nurse administer per dose?
(Round the answer to the nearest whole number. Use a leading zero if ti applies. Do not use a
trailing zero.)
Answer: 2 tablet(s)
Follow these steps for the Ratio and Proportion method of calculation:
Step 1: What is the unit of measurements the nurse should calculate? tablet(s)
Step 2: What is the dose the nurse should administer? Dose to administer = Desired 10 mg
Step 3: What is the dose available? Dose available = Have 5 mg
Step 4: Should the nurse convert the units of measurement? No
Step 5: What is the quantity of the dose available? 1 tablet
First, determine the total dose needed per administration:
10 mg.
Next, find out how many tablets are required based on the available strength:
10 mg ÷ 5 mg/tablet = 2 tablets.
The nurse should administer 2 tablets of metoclopramide per dose.
14. A nurse is preparing to administer furosemide 20 mg IM. Available is furosemide
injection 10mg/mL should the nurse administer? (Round the answer to the nearest whole
number. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.)
Answer: 2 mL
Follow these steps for the Ratio and Proportion method of calculation:
Step 1: What is the unit of measurements the nurse should calculate? mL
Step 2: What is the dose the nurse should administer? Dose to administer = Desired 20 mg
Step 3: What is the dose available? Dose available = Have 10 mg
Step 4: Should the nurse convert the units of measurement? No
Step 5: What is the quantity of the dose available? 1 ml
First, determine the total dose needed in mL:
20 mg ÷ 10 mg/mL = 2 mL.
The nurse should administer 2 mL of furosemide.
15. A nurse is preparing to administer dextrose 5% of water (D5W) 250mL IV to infuse over 2
hr. The nurse should set the IV pump to deliver how many mL/hr? (Round the answer to the
nearest whole number. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.)
Answer: 125mL/hr
Follow these steps to calculate the infusion rate using the Ratio and Proportion or Desired
over have method of calculation:
Step 1: What is the unit of measurements the nurse should calculate? mL/hr
Step 2: What is the volume the nurse should infuse? 250 mL
Step 3: What is the total infusion time? 2hr
Step 4: Should the nurse convert the units of measurement? No
Step 5: Set up an equation and solve for X.
First, calculate the infusion rate in mL/hr:
250 mL ÷ 2 hr = 125 mL/hr.
The nurse should set the IV pump to deliver 125 mL/hr.
16. A nurse is preparing to administer doxycycline 0.3g PO. Available is doxycycline 150 mg
capsules. How many capsules should the nurse administer (Round the answer to the nearest
whole number. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.)
Answer: 2 capsule(s)
Follow these steps for the Ratio and Proportion method of calculation:
Step 1: What is the unit off measurement the nurse should calculate? Capsules(s)
Step 2: What is the dose the nurse should administer? Dose to administer = Desired 0.3 g
Step 3: What is the dose available? Dose available = Have 150 mg
Step 4: Should the nurse convert the units of measurement? Yes (g does not equal mg)
First, convert the dose from grams to milligrams:
0.3 g = 300 mg.
Next, determine how many capsules are needed based on the available strength:
300 mg ÷ 150 mg/capsule = 2 capsules.
The nurse should administer 2 capsules of doxycycline.
17. A nurse is reviewing a client’s prescriptions. The nurse should contact provider to clarify
which of the following prescriptions?
Answer: Carvedilol 6.25 mg twice daily; hold for apical pulse less than 50/min
The nurse should contact the provider for clarification of this prescription because it is
missing the route of administration.
Atorvastatin 10 mg PO once daily
Incorrect: The nurse should identify that this prescription does not require clarification
because it includes the medication name, dosage, route and frequency.
Incorrect: Captopril 12.5 mg PO every 8 hr.
To provide a specific recommendation on which prescription to clarify with the provider, I
need details about the prescriptions being reviewed. Generally, a nurse should contact the
provider if:
1. The dosage seems unusually high or low.
2. There is a potential drug interaction with the client's current medications.
3. The frequency of administration is unclear or inconsistent with standard practice.
4. The route of administration is inappropriate for the medication.
5. The prescription does not align with the client's medical history or condition.
If you have specific prescriptions to review, please share them!
18. A nurse is preparing to administer a 1,500mL IV fluid bolus fo 0.9% sodium chloride to a
client. How many litres should the nurse (Round the answer to the nearest tenth. Use a
leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.)
Answer: 1.5L
Follow these steps for the Ratio and Proportion method of calculation:
Step 1: What is the unit off measurement the nurse should calculate? mL
Step 2: Set up an equation and solve for X.
To convert milliliters to liters, divide by 1,000:
1,500 mL ÷ 1,000 = 1.5 L.
The nurse should administer 1.5 L of IV fluid.
19. A nurse is preparing to administer methadone 0.1mg/kg IV bolus to a client who weighs
104lb. Available is methadone 10 mg/mL. How many should the nurse administer? (Round
the answer to the nearest hundredth. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing
zero.)
Answer: 0.47mL
Follow these steps for the Ratio and Proportion method of calculation:
Step 1: What is the unit off measurement the nurse should calculate? kg
Step 2: Set up an equation and solve for X.
First, convert the client’s weight from pounds to kilograms:
104 lb ÷ 2.2 = 47.27 kg.
Next, calculate the required dose of methadone:
0.1 mg/kg × 47.27 kg = 4.727 mg.
Now, determine how many mL of the available methadone solution to administer:
4.727 mg ÷ 10 mg/mL = 0.4727 mL.
Rounding to the nearest hundredth, the nurse should administer 0.47 mL of methadone.
20. A nurse is preparing to administer gentamicin 6mg/kg/day IM divided in three equal
doses to a client who weighs 50 kg. Available is gentamicin mg/mL. How many mL should
the nurse administer per dose? (Round the answer to the nearest tenth. Use a leading zero if it
applies. Do not use a trailing zero.)
Answer: 2.5mL
Follow these steps for the Ratio and Proportion method of calculation:
Step 1: What is the unit off measurement the nurse should calculate? mg
Step 2: Set up an equation and solve for X.
First, calculate the total daily dose of gentamicin:
6 mg/kg/day × 50 kg = 300 mg/day.
Next, divide the total daily dose by the number of doses:
300 mg/day ÷ 3 doses = 100 mg/dose.
Now, determine how many mL to administer per dose based on the available concentration:
100 mg ÷ 40 mg/mL = 2.5 mL.
The nurse should administer 2.5 mL of gentamicin per dose.
21. A nurse is preparing to administer famotidine 20mg via intermittent IV bolus every 12 hr.
Available is famotidine 20 mg in 0.9% sodium chloride 50 mL to infuse over 20 min. The
nurse should set the IV infusion pump to deliver how many mL/hr? (Round the answer to the
nearest whole number. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.)
Answer: 150 mL/hr
Follow these steps for the Ratio and Proportion method of calculation:
Step 1: What is the unit of measurements the nurse should calculate? mL/hr
Step 2: What is the volume the nurse should infuse? 50 mL
Step 3: What is the total infusion time? 20 min
Step 4: Should the nurse convert the units of measurement? Yes (min does not equal hr)
First, calculate the total infusion time in hours:
20 min ÷ 60 min/hr = 0.33 hr.
Next, determine the infusion rate in mL/hr:
50 mL ÷ 0.33 hr = 151.5 mL/hr.
Rounding to the nearest whole number, the nurse should set the IV infusion pump to deliver
152 mL/hr.
22. A nurse is preparing to administer amphotericin B lipid complex 2.5 mg/kg IV intermitten
bolus to a client who weighs 176 lb. Available is amphotericin B complex 5mg/mL. How
many mL should the nurse administer? (Round the answer to the nearest whole number. Use
a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.)
Answer: 40mL
23. A nurse is preparing to administer cefazolin 500mg IM to a client. Available is cefazolin
powder 500mg vial. The nurse reconstitutes the powder by adding 2 mL of sterile water to
yield a final concentration of cefazolin 225mg/mL. How many should the nurse administer?
(Round the answer to the nearest tenth. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing
zero.)
Answer: 2.2mL
Follow these steps for the Ratio and Proportion method of calcalution:
Step 1: What is the unit of measurement the nurse should calculate? mL
Step 2: What is the dose the nurse should administer? Dose to administer = Desired 500 mg
Step 3: What is the dose available? Dose Available = Have 225 mg
Step 4: Should the nurse convert the units of measurement? No
Step 5: What is the quantity of the dose available? 1 mL
First, calculate the required dose in mL based on the concentration:
500 mg ÷ 225 mg/mL = 2.2222 mL.
Rounding to the nearest tenth, the nurse should administer 2.2 mL of cefazolin.
24. A nurse is preparing to administer tobramycin 3mg/kg/day IM divided in three equal
doses to a client who weighs 60kg. Available is tobramycin 40mg/mL. How many mL should
the nurse administer per dose? (Round the answer to the nearest tenth. Use a leading zero if it
applies. Do not use a trailing zero.)
Answer: 1.5 mL
25. A nurse is preparing to administer cefazolin 250 mg IM to a client. Available is cefazolin
powder 500 mg vial. The nurse reconstitutes the powder adding 2 mL of sterlie water to yield
a final concentration of cefazolin 225mg/mL. How many mL should the nurse administer?
(Round the answer to the nearest tenth. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing
zero.)
Answer: 1.1 mL
Follow these steps for the Ratio and Proportion method of calculation:
Step 1: What is the unit of measurement the nurse should calculate? mL
Step 2: What is the dose the nurse should administer? Dose to administer = Desired 250 mg
Step 3: What is the dose available? Dose Available = Have 225 mg
Step 4: Should the nurse convert the units of measurement? No
Step 5: What is the quantity of the dose available? 1 mL
First, calculate the required dose in mL based on the concentration:
250 mg ÷ 225 mg/mL = 1.1111 mL.
Rounding to the nearest tenth, the nurse should administer 1.1 mL of cefazolin.
