PO Medication
A nurse is preparing to administer acetaminophen 650 mg PO every 6 hr. Available is acetaminophen 325 mg tablets. How many tablets should the nurse administer per dose? Round to the nearest whole number.
Step 1: Do I divide?
No. 650 mg is already the prescribed dose. Every 6 hr tells you when to give it.
Step 2: Set up equation
650 mg × 1 tablet / 325 mg = 2 tablets
Answer: 2 tablets per dose
A nurse is preparing to administer heparin 5,000 units SQ every 8 hr. Available is heparin 10,000 units/mL. How many mL should the nurse administer per dose? Round to the nearest tenth.
Step 1: Do I divide?
No. 5,000 units is already the prescribed dose. Every 8 hr is the frequency.
Step 2: Set up equation
5,000 units × 1 mL / 10,000 units
Step 3: Solve
= 0.5 mL
Answer: 0.5 mL SQ per dose
A nurse is preparing to administer acetaminophen 10 mg/kg PO every 6 hr to a child who weighs 33 lb. How many mg should the nurse administer per dose? Round to the nearest whole number.
Step 1: Convert pounds to kilograms
33 lb ÷ 2.2 = 15 kg
Step 2: Calculate dose
10 mg/kg × 15 kg = 150 mg
Step 3: Do I divide?
No. The order is mg/kg every 6 hr, not mg/kg/day.
Answer: 150 mg per dose
A client with type 1 diabetes is prescribed rapid-acting insulin (lispro) before meals using the following order:
Carbohydrate coverage: 1 unit of insulin for every 10 g of carbohydrates
For breakfast, the client eats:
How many units of insulin should the nurse administer? Round to the nearest whole unit.
Step 1: Add total carbohydrates
15 + 0 + 20 + 12 + 3 = 50 g carbs
Step 2: Calculate insulin dose
50 g × 1 unit / 10 g = 5 units
Step 3: Apply rounding rule
Already a whole number
Answer: 5 units
A nurse is completing an 8-hr I&O record for a client who consumed 5 oz orange juice, 10 oz water, an IV bolus of 150 mL, and 4 oz gelatin. The nurse should record how many mL of intake on the client's record?
5 oz × 30 mL = 150 mL
10 oz × 30 mL = 300 mL
4 oz × 30 mL = 120 mL
150 + 300 + 150 + 120 = 720 mL
Answer: 720 mL
A nurse is preparing to administer amoxicillin 400 mg PO every 8 hr. Available is amoxicillin 250 mg/5 mL. How many mL should the nurse administer per dose? Round to the nearest tenth.
Step 1: Do I divide?
No. 400 mg is already the amount prescribed per dose.
Step 2: Set up equation
400 mg × 5 mL / 250 mg
Step 3: Solve
= 8 mL
Answer: 8 mL per dose
A nurse is preparing to administer ketorolac 45 mg IM every 6 hr PRN. Available is ketorolac 30 mg/mL. How many mL should the nurse administer per dose? Round to the nearest tenth.
Step 1: Do I divide?
No. 45 mg is already the prescribed dose.
Step 2: Set up equation
45 mg × 1 mL / 30 mg
Step 3: Solve
= 1.5 mL
Answer: 1.5 mL IM per dose
A nurse is preparing to administer amoxicillin 30 mg/kg/day PO divided every 12 hr to a child who weighs 44 lb. How many mg should the nurse administer per dose? Round to the nearest whole number.
Step 1: Convert pounds to kilograms
44 lb ÷ 2.2 = 20 kg
Step 2: Calculate total daily dose
30 mg/kg/day × 20 kg = 600 mg/day
Step 3: Determine number of doses
24 hr ÷ 12 hr = 2 doses/day
Step 4: Divide daily dose
600 mg ÷ 2 = 300 mg/dose
Answer: 300 mg per dose
A client is prescribed rapid-acting insulin before meals.
Carbohydrate coverage: 1 unit of insulin for every 12 g of carbohydrates
For lunch, the client eats:
How many units of insulin should the nurse administer? Round to the nearest whole unit.
Step 1: Add total carbohydrates
30 + 1 + 15 + 12 + 2 = 60 g carbs
Step 2: Calculate insulin dose
60 g × 1 unit / 12 g = 5 units
Step 3: Apply rounding rule
Already a whole number
Answer: 5 units
A nurse is completing an 8-hr I&O record for a client who consumed 8 oz apple juice, 6 oz coffee, 5 oz yogurt, and an IV antibiotic in 100 mL of 0.9% sodium chloride. The nurse should record how many mL of intake on the client's record?
8 oz × 30 mL = 240 mL
6 oz × 30 mL = 180 mL
5 oz × 30 mL = 150 mL
240 + 180 + 150 + 100 = 670 mL
Answer: 670 mL
A nurse is preparing to administer cephalexin 750 mg PO every 12 hr. Available is cephalexin 250 mg/5 mL. How many mL should the nurse administer per dose? Round to the nearest tenth.
Step 1: Do I divide?
No. The order is 750 mg every 12 hr, so 750 mg is already the individual dose.
Step 2: Set up equation
750 mg × 5 mL / 250 mg
Step 3: Solve
= 15 mL
Answer: 15 mL per dose
A nurse is preparing to administer morphine 4 mg IVP every 4 hr PRN. Available is morphine 10 mg/2 mL. How many mL should the nurse administer per dose? Round to the nearest tenth.
Step 1: Do I divide?
No. The 4 mg is already the individual dose.
Step 2: Set up equation
4 mg × 2 mL / 10 mg
Step 3: Solve
= 0.8 mL
Answer: 0.8 mL IVP per dose
A nurse is preparing to administer cephalexin 40 mg/kg/day PO divided into 4 equal doses to a child who weighs 55 lb. Available is cephalexin 250 mg/5 mL. How many mL should the nurse administer per dose? Round to the nearest tenth.
Step 1: Convert pounds to kilograms
55 lb ÷ 2.2 = 25 kg
Step 2: Calculate total daily dose
40 mg/kg/day × 25 kg = 1,000 mg/day
Step 3: Divide into 4 equal doses
1,000 mg ÷ 4 = 250 mg/dose
Step 4: Calculate mL
250 mg × 5 mL / 250 mg = 5 mL
Answer: 5 mL per dose
A client is prescribed rapid-acting insulin before meals.
Carbohydrate coverage: 1 unit of insulin for every 15 g of carbohydrates
For dinner, the client eats:
How many units of insulin should the nurse administer? Round to the nearest whole unit.
Step 1: Add total carbohydrates
0 + 35 + 18 + 12 + 5 = 70 g carbs
Step 2: Calculate insulin dose
70 g × 1 unit / 15 g = 4.67 units
Step 3: Apply rounding rule
4.67 → 5 units
Answer: 5 units
A nurse is calculating the intake of a client during the past 8 hr. The client's intake includes lactated Ringer's IV at 100 mL/hr, an antibiotic in 50 mL of 0.9% sodium chloride, and an IV bolus of 250 mL of 0.9% sodium chloride. How many mL of intake should the nurse record?
100 mL/hr × 8 hr = 800 mL
800 + 50 + 250 = 1,100 mL
Answer: 1,100 mL
A nurse is preparing to administer amoxicillin 1.2 g PO. Available is amoxicillin 400 mg/5 mL. How many mL should the nurse administer? Round to the nearest tenth.
Step 1: Convert grams to milligrams
1.2 g × 1,000 = 1,200 mg
Step 2: Set up equation
1,200 mg × 5 mL / 400 mg
Step 3: Solve
= 15 mL
Answer: 15 mL
A nurse is preparing to administer cefazolin 600 mg IM. Available after reconstitution is cefazolin 1 g/5 mL. How many mL should the nurse administer? Round to the nearest tenth.
Step 1: Convert grams to milligrams
1 g = 1,000 mg
Step 2: Set up equation
600 mg × 5 mL / 1,000 mg
Step 3: Solve
= 3 mL
Answer: 3 mL IM
A nurse is preparing to administer amoxicillin 45 mg/kg/day PO divided every 8 hr to a child who weighs 66 lb. Available is amoxicillin 250 mg/5 mL. How many mL should the nurse administer per dose? Round to the nearest tenth.
Step 1: Convert pounds to kilograms
66 lb ÷ 2.2 = 30 kg
Step 2: Calculate total daily dose
45 mg/kg/day × 30 kg = 1,350 mg/day
Step 3: Determine number of doses
24 hr ÷ 8 hr = 3 doses/day
Step 4: Calculate dose
1,350 mg ÷ 3 = 450 mg/dose
Step 5: Calculate mL
450 mg × 5 mL / 250 mg = 9 mL
Answer: 9 mL per dose
A client is prescribed rapid-acting insulin before meals.
Carbohydrate coverage: 1 unit of insulin for every 8 g of carbohydrates
For breakfast, the client eats:
How many units of insulin should the nurse administer? Round to the nearest whole unit.
Step 1: Add total carbohydrates
30 + 0 + 27 + 12 + 3 = 72 g carbs
Step 2: Calculate insulin dose
72 g × 1 unit / 8 g = 9 units
Step 3: Apply rounding rule
Already a whole number
Answer: 9 units
A nurse is calculating the intake of a client during the past 10 hr. The client's intake includes 0.9% sodium chloride IV at 75 mL/hr, an antibiotic in 100 mL of 0.9% sodium chloride, two IV bolus infusions of 150 mL of lactated Ringer's, and an IV medication in 50 mL of 0.9% sodium chloride. How many mL of intake should the nurse record?
75 mL/hr × 10 hr = 750 mL
150 mL × 2 = 300 mL
750 + 100 + 300 + 50 = 1,200 mL
Answer: 1,200 mL
A nurse is preparing to administer digoxin 375 mcg PO every 12 hr. Available is digoxin 0.25 mg/mL. How many mL should the nurse administer per dose? Round to the nearest tenth.
Step 1: Do I divide?
No. 375 mcg is already the prescribed dose.
Step 2: Convert mg to mcg
0.25 mg × 1,000 = 250 mcg
Step 3: Set up equation
375 mcg × 1 mL / 250 mcg
Step 4: Solve
= 1.5 mL
Answer: 1.5 mL per dose
A nurse is preparing to administer hydromorphone 600 mcg IVP every 4 hr PRN. Available is hydromorphone 2 mg/mL. How many mL should the nurse administer per dose? Round to the nearest tenth.
Step 1: Do I divide?
No. 600 mcg is already the prescribed dose.
Step 2: Convert mg to mcg
2 mg × 1,000 = 2,000 mcg
Step 3: Set up equation
600 mcg × 1 mL / 2,000 mcg
Step 4: Solve
= 0.3 mL
Answer: 0.3 mL IVP per dose
A nurse is preparing to administer clindamycin 35 mg/kg/day PO divided into 3 equal doses to a child who weighs 57 lb. Available is clindamycin 150 mg/5 mL. How many mL should the nurse administer per dose? Round to the nearest tenth.
Step 1: Convert pounds to kilograms
57 lb ÷ 2.2 = 25.9 kg
Step 2: Calculate total daily dose
35 mg/kg/day × 25.9 kg = 906.5 mg/day
Step 3: Divide into 3 equal doses
906.5 mg ÷ 3 = 302.17 mg/dose
Step 4: Calculate mL
302.17 mg × 5 mL / 150 mg = 10.07 mL
Step 5: Round to nearest tenth
10.07 → 10.1 mL
Answer: 10.1 mL per dose
A client is prescribed rapid-acting insulin before meals.
Carbohydrate coverage: 1 unit of insulin for every 12 g of carbohydrates
For dinner, the client eats:
How many units of insulin should the nurse administer? Round to the nearest whole unit.
Step 1: Add total carbohydrates
0 + 38 + 15 + 8 + 12 + 14 = 87 g carbs
Step 2: Calculate insulin dose
87 g × 1 unit / 12 g = 7.25 units
Step 3: Apply rounding rule
7.25 → 7 units
Answer: 7 units
A nurse is completing a 12-hr I&O record for a client. The client consumed 8 oz coffee, 6 oz juice, and 4 oz gelatin. The client also received lactated Ringer's IV at 80 mL/hr, an antibiotic in 100 mL of 0.9% sodium chloride, and an IV bolus of 250 mL. The nurse should record how many mL of intake on the client's record?
8 oz × 30 mL = 240 mL
6 oz × 30 mL = 180 mL
4 oz × 30 mL = 120 mL
80 mL/hr × 12 hr = 960 mL
240 + 180 + 120 + 960 + 100 + 250 = 1,850 mL
Answer: 1,850 mL