Drug Calculation

Question 1

A 30mEq in 100mL potassium is ordered. The potassium is set at 8 mEq/h how many mL/hr should the IV be set at?

Answer 1

• 26.67 mL/hr (8/30*100)

Question 2

An infusion was started at 5pm. An IV fluid of 1000mL NSS is ordered to be infused at 80mL per hour, how long till the solution is changed?

Answer 2

5:30AM (100mL/75mL per hr)

Question 3

The client was prescribed to take Augmentin 1000 mg in a day, the available dosage of the drug in tablet form is 500mg, how many tablets should the client administer in a day?

Answer 3

2 tabs per/day (1000mg/500mg)

Question 4

The physician ordered liquid oral medication. The order says to administer 15mg by mouth every 4hours as needed for sore throat. Pharmacy dispenses you with 30mg/3ml. HOw many ml will you administer per dose?

Answer 4

1.5 mL/dose

Question 5

Infuse 1500 mL over 12 hours. The drip factor is 15 gtt/mL. How many drops per minute (gtts/min) will be administered?

Answer 5

31 gtt/min

Question 6

Give Vancomycin 500mg to infuse at 5mg/kg/hr. The patient weighs 98 lbs. You are supplied with a 500mg/100mL bag. How many mL/hr will you administer?

Answer 6

44.5 mL/hr

Question 7

Give paracetamol 100 mg IV every 4 hours for temperature 38.5 C and above. How many ml will you administer? (stock: 300mg/2mL)

Answer 7

0.67mL

Question 8

The doctor ordered 1 mg/kg of Lovenox. The patient weighs 154 lb. The medicine is available in 80 mg/mL. How many mL will you give?

Answer 8

0.9mL

Question 9

1L of plain lactated ringer’s solution for 10 hours with a drop factor of 20gtt/mL. Calculate the flow rate and drop rate.

Answer 9

Flow rate: 100 mL/hr

Drop rate: 33 gtt/min

Question 10

A client is to receive Frusemide 80 mg IV, available is Frusemide 250 mg in 25 mls. Calculate the volume required.

Answer 10

8 mL

Question 11

A client is to receive 500 ml of normal saline. The drip chamber is adjusted to deliver 25 mL/h. How long will the fluid last?

Answer 11

20 hrs (500/25)

Question 12

1000 mL of IV fluid is to infuse over 8 hours. Calculate the flow rate in mL/hr.

Answer 12

125 mL/hr (1000/8)

Question 13

A student nurse will infuse 1.5 L of NS in over 7 hours; drop factor is 15 gtt/mL. What flow rate will the student nurse set on the IV infusion pump? Round your answer to a whole number.

Answer 13

214 mL/hr (1500mL/7hours)

Question 14

A physician prescribed Donalex elixir for a 16-month old. The normal adult dose is 325mg q4h to q6h. The medication is available as 325mg/5mL. Use Fried’s rule to calculate the dosage.

Answer 14

34.67mL (16/150 * 325)

Question 15

A physician prescribed milk of magnesia for an 8 year old patient. The normal adult dose is 30mL. Use Young’s rule to calculate the dosage

Answer 15

12mL (8/ 8+12 * 30)

Question 16

Upon discharging a client, he asked how many teaspoons is 5 mL of Augmentin, an antibiotic medication prescribed to treat his bacterial infection.

Answer 16

1 tsp OR 1 teaspoon

Question 17

A fellow student nurse was confused by the abbreviation on the prescription of Tamsulosin to his client. He asks you what does qhs mean?

Answer 17

Every night at bed time

Question 18

When taking his prescribed medication of 30 mL Lactulose at bedtime, a client asked if he could use a tablespoon instead of a teaspoon. If he needs 30mL of Lactulose, how many tablespoons would he take?

Answer 18

2 tbsp OR 2 tablespoons

1 tbsp = 3 tsp = 15 mL

Question 19

Each acetaminophen (Tylenol) #3 tablet has 300 mg of acetaminophen and 30 mg codeine. A patient is told to take 2 tablets PO every 4 hours for pain. The maximum safe dose of acetaminophen is 4 g/day. The safe dose of codeine varies with tolerance. Is the dose safe?

Answer 19

3.6 grams per day. SAFE!

(300 mg/ tab) x (2 tab/ dose) x (6 doses/ day) x (1 gram/ 1000 mg)= 3.6 grams/ day

Question 20

Levothyroxine (Synthroid) 75 mcg PO per day is ordered for a patient with hypothyroidism. It is supplied as 0.075 mg tablets. How many tablets should the patient take daily? A safe dose of Synthroid is 1.5 mcg/kg/day. The patient weighs 110 pounds. Is the dose safe?

Answer 20

1 tablet. The patient is receiving 1.7 mcg/kg. Safe!

For tablet: 75 mcg x (1 mg/ 1000 mcg) x (1 tablet/ 0.075 mg)= 1 tablet

Safeness: (75 mcg/ 110 lbs.) x (2.2 lbs./ 1 kg)= 1.5 mcg/ kg = SAFE

Question 21

A health care provider orders amikacin (Amikin) 5 mg/ lb IM q 12 hr; Available: Amikacin 0.9 gm/ 2 mL. How many mL will you administer to a 50 Kg patient? Record your answer using one decimal place.

Answer 21

1.2 mL
50 kg x 2.2= 110 lbs (5mg/ lb)= 550 mg
550 mg x 0.9

Question 22

Amoxil (amoxicillin) suspension 180 mg PO bid is ordered for a patient who cannot swallow pills. It is supplied as 125 mg/5 mL. How many milliliters should you administer?

Answer 22

7.2 mL

Question 23

A health care provider orders Heparin 7,855 units subq bid; Available: Heparin 10,000 units per ml. How many mL will you administer?

Answer 23

0.79 mL

Question 24

A health care provider orders Streptomycin 1.75 mg/ lb IM q 12 hr; Available: Streptomycin 0.35 g / 2.3 mL. How many mL will you administer a day to a 59 Kg patient?

Answer 24

3mL

Question 25

The physician writes an order for Tylenol 160 mg by mouth as needed every 6 hours for pain for a child. Pharmacy dispenses you with 80 mg per ml. How many ml will you administer per dose?

Answer 25

2ml/dose

Question 26

The physician has an order of Ibuprofen 3 mg/kg by mouth every 6 hours for pain for a child. The child weighs 73 lb. Pharmacy dispenses you with 50 mg/2 ml. How many ml will you administer per dose?

Answer 26

3.9 ml/ dose

Question 27

A healthcare provider ordered Robitussin AC 100 mg by mouth 3 times per day as needed for cough. Pharmacy dispenses you with 100mg/5ml. How many teaspoons will you administer per dose??

Answer 27

1 tsp/ dose