Solid Medication
A nurse is preparing to administer acetaminophen 500 mg PO. Available is acetaminophen 250 mg tablets. How many tablets should the nurse administer? Round to the nearest whole number.
A nurse is preparing to administer heparin 4,000 units SQ. Available is heparin 5,000 units/mL. How many mL should the nurse administer? Round to the nearest tenth.
A nurse is preparing to administer acetaminophen 10 mg/kg PO to a child who weighs 33 lb. How many mg should the nurse administer? Round to the nearest whole number.
A client drinks 12 oz of water. How many mL did the client drink?
Prescribed: Amoxicillin 20 mg/kg PO every 8 hr.
After calculating the weight-based dose, should you divide the dose?
No — do not divide.
Rationale: The order says 20 mg/kg every 8 hr, not mg/kg/day. The 20 mg/kg is already the amount to give each dose.
A nurse is preparing to administer prednisone 15 mg PO. Available is prednisone 5 mg tablets. How many tablets should the nurse administer? Round to the nearest whole number.
A nurse is preparing to administer ketorolac 45 mg IM. Available is ketorolac 30 mg/mL. How many mL should the nurse administer? Round to the nearest tenth.
A nurse is preparing to administer amoxicillin 20 mg/kg PO to a child who weighs 44 lb. Available is amoxicillin 250 mg/5 mL. How many mL should the nurse administer? Round to the nearest tenth.
A medication contains 2,500 mg. How many grams is this?
Prescribed: Cephalexin 30 mg/kg/day PO divided every 8 hr.
After calculating the total daily dose, should you divide the dose? If so, by how many?
Yes — divide by 3.
Rationale: The order is written as mg/kg/day, so you first calculate the total amount for the entire day.
Every 8 hr means:
24 hr ÷ 8 hr = 3 doses/day
Therefore, divide the daily dose by 3.
A nurse is preparing to administer phenytoin 0.4 g PO. Available is phenytoin 200 mg capsules. How many capsules should the nurse administer? Round to the nearest whole number.
A nurse is preparing to administer morphine 6 mg IVP. Available is morphine 10 mg/2 mL. How many mL should the nurse administer? Round to the nearest tenth.
A nurse is preparing to administer cefazolin 25 mg/kg IM to a child who weighs 66 lb. Available is cefazolin 500 mg/2 mL. How many mL should the nurse administer? Round to the nearest tenth.
An IV bag contains 1.75 L of fluid. How many mL are in the IV bag?
Prescribed: Acetaminophen 15 mg/kg PO every 6 hr PRN.
After calculating the weight-based dose, should you divide the dose?
No — do not divide.
Rationale: 15 mg/kg is the amount for each dose. “Every 6 hr” tells you when the dose can be given, not to divide the 15 mg/kg by 4.
A nurse is preparing to administer levothyroxine 150 mcg PO. Available is levothyroxine 0.05 mg tablets. How many tablets should the nurse administer? Round to the nearest whole number.
A nurse is preparing to administer cefazolin 750 mg IM. Available after reconstitution is cefazolin 1 g/4 mL. How many mL should the nurse administer? Round to the nearest tenth.
A child who weighs 55 lb is prescribed clindamycin 30 mg/kg/day PO divided into 3 equal doses. Available is clindamycin 150 mg/5 mL. How many mL should the nurse administer per dose? Round to the nearest tenth.
A medication dose is prescribed as 0.625 mg. How many mcg is this?
Prescribed: Clindamycin 40 mg/kg/day PO divided into 4 equal doses.
After calculating the total daily dose, should you divide the dose? If so, by how many?
Yes — divide by 4.
Rationale: mg/kg/day means you calculated the medication amount for the whole day.
The order directly tells you 4 equal doses, so divide the daily amount by 4.
A nurse is preparing to administer metronidazole 1.5 g PO. Available is metronidazole 500 mg tablets. How many tablets should the nurse administer? Round to the nearest whole number.
A nurse is preparing to administer hydromorphone 750 mcg IVP. Available is hydromorphone 2 mg/mL. How many mL should the nurse administer? Round to the nearest tenth.
A child who weighs 77 lb is prescribed cephalexin 40 mg/kg/day PO in equal doses every 8 hr. Available is cephalexin 250 mg/5 mL. How many mL should the nurse administer per dose? Round to the nearest tenth.
A child weighs 57 lb. How many kilograms does the child weigh? Round to the nearest tenth.
Prescribed: Cefazolin 25 mg/kg/day IV divided every 6 hr.
After calculating the total daily dose, should you divide the dose? If so, by how many?
Yes — divide by 4.
Rationale: The order is 25 mg/kg/day, so the calculated amount represents the total daily dose.
Every 6 hr means:
24 hr ÷ 6 hr = 4 doses/day
Therefore, divide the daily dose by 4.