Solid & Liquid Medications
SQ/IM
Dosages by Weight
Drops per minute
How many ml/hr?
100

Administer prednisone 30 mg PO. Available is prednisone 10 mg tablets. How many tablets should you administer? Round to the nearest whole number.

  • Units of measurement: tablets
  • Formula: D × Q / H
  • Desired dose: 30 mg
  • Dose available: 10 mg
  • Converting? Not needed
  • Set up equation: 30 mg × 1 tablet / 10 mg
  • Answer: 3 tablets
100

A nurse is preparing to administer heparin 5,000 units SQ. Available is heparin 10,000 units/mL. How many mL should the nurse administer? Round to the nearest tenth.


  • Units of measurement: mL
  • Formula: D × Q / H
  • Desired dose: 5,000 units
  • Dose available: 10,000 units/mL
  • Converting? Not needed
  • Set up equation: 5,000 units × 1 mL / 10,000 units
  • Solve: 0.5 mL
  • Answer: 0.5 mL SQ
100

Administer acetaminophen 10 mg/kg PO to a child who weighs 22 lb. How many mg should the nurse administer? Round to the nearest whole number.

  • Units of measurement: mg
  • Converting? 22 lb / 2.2 = 10 kg
  • Dose ordered: 10 mg/kg
  • Set up equation: 10 mg/kg × 10 kg
  • Solve: 100 mg
  • Answer: 100 mg
100

0.9% NaCl 600 mL IV is ordered to infuse over 5 hr. The drop factor of the manual IV tubing is 10 gtt/mL. How many drops per minute should you administer? Round to the nearest whole number.

  • Units of measurement: gtt/min
  • Formula: X gtt/min = Volume (mL) / Time (min) × Drop factor (gtt) / 1 mL
  • Infusion volume needed: 600 mL
  • Infusion time total: 5 hr
  • Convert units: 5 hr × 60 min/hr = 300 min
  • Set up equation: X gtt/min = 600 mL / 300 min × 10 gtt / 1 mL
  • Solve: 20 gtt/min
  • Answer: 20 gtt/min
100

A nurse is preparing to administer 0.9% NaCl 600 mL IV over 4 hr. The nurse should set the IV pump to deliver how many mL/hr? Round to the nearest whole number.

  • Units of measurement: mL/hr
  • Formula: mL/hr = Volume (mL) / Time (hr)
  • Infusion volume needed: 600 mL
  • Infusion time total: 4 hr
  • Conversion needed? No
  • Set up equation: 600 mL / 4 hr
  • Solve: 150 mL/hr
  • Answer: 150 mL/hr
200

Administer acetaminophen 650 mg PO. Available is acetaminophen 325 mg tablets. How many tablets should you administer? Round to the nearest whole number.

  • Units of measurement: tablets
  • Formula: D × Q / H
  • Desired dose: 650 mg
  • Dose available: 325 mg
  • Converting? Not needed
  • Set up equation: 650 mg × 1 tablet / 325 mg
  • Answer: 2 tablets
200

A nurse is preparing to administer ketorolac 25 mg IM. Available is ketorolac 30 mg/mL. How many mL should the nurse administer? Round to the nearest tenth.


  • Units of measurement: mL
  • Formula: D × Q / H
  • Desired dose: 25 mg
  • Dose available: 30 mg/mL
  • Converting? Not needed
  • Set up equation: 25 mg × 1 mL / 30 mg
  • Solve: 0.83 mL
  • Round to nearest tenth: 0.8 mL
  • Answer: 0.8 mL IM
200

Administer amoxicillin 15 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.

  • Units of measurement: mL
  • Formula: D × Q / H
  • Converting? 44 lb / 2.2 = 20 kg
  • Equation: 15 mg/kg × 20 kg = 300 mg
  • Desired dose: 300 mg
  • Dose available: 250 mg/5 mL
  • Set up equation: 300 mg × 5 mL / 250 mg
  • Solve: 6 mL
  • Answer: 6 mL
200

Lactated Ringer's 1,000 mL IV is ordered to infuse over 8 hr. The drop factor of the manual IV tubing is 15 gtt/mL. How many drops per minute should you administer? Round to the nearest whole number.

  • Units of measurement: gtt/min
  • Formula: X gtt/min = Volume (mL) / Time (min) × Drop factor (gtt) / 1 mL
  • Infusion volume needed: 1,000 mL
  • Infusion time total: 8 hr
  • Convert units: 8 hr × 60 min/hr = 480 min
  • Set up equation: X gtt/min = 1,000 mL / 480 min × 15 gtt / 1 mL
  • Solve: 31.25 gtt/min
  • Answer: 31 gtt/min
200

A nurse is preparing to administer D5W 1,000 mL IV over 8 hr. The nurse should set the IV pump to deliver how many mL/hr? Round to the nearest whole number.

  • Units of measurement: mL/hr
  • Formula: mL/hr = Volume (mL) / Time (hr)
  • Infusion volume needed: 1,000 mL
  • Infusion time total: 8 hr
  • Conversion needed? No
  • Set up equation: 1,000 mL / 8 hr
  • Solve: 125 mL/hr
  • Answer: 125 mL/hr
300

Administer amoxicillin 375 mg PO. Available is amoxicillin oral suspension 250 mg/5 mL. How many mL should you administer? Round to the nearest tenth.

  • Units of measurement: mL
  • Formula: D × Q / H
  • Desired dose: 375 mg
  • Dose available: 250 mg/5 mL
  • Converting? Not needed
  • Set up equation: 375 mg × 5 mL / 250 mg
  • Solve: 7.5 mL
  • Answer: 7.5 mL
300

A nurse is preparing to administer ceftriaxone 750 mg IM. After reconstitution, the medication is available as 1 g/2.5 mL. How many mL should the nurse administer? Round to the nearest tenth.

  • Units of measurement: mL
  • Formula: D × Q / H
  • Desired dose: 750 mg
  • Dose available: 1 g/2.5 mL
  • Converting? 1 g × 1,000 = 1,000 mg
  • Set up equation: 750 mg × 2.5 mL / 1,000 mg
  • Solve: 1.875 mL
  • Round to nearest tenth: 1.9 mL
  • Answer: 1.9 mL IM
300

Cephalexin 30 mg/kg/day PO divided in equal doses every 8 hr is prescribed for a child who weighs 33 lb. How many mg should the nurse administer per dose? Round to the nearest whole number.

  • Units of measurement: mg/dose
  • Converting? 33 lb / 2.2 = 15 kg
  • Equation: 30 mg/kg/day × 15 kg = 450 mg/day
  • Desired dose: 450 mg/day
  • Every 8 hr: 24 hr / 8 hr = 3 doses/day
  • Divide equally: 450 mg / 3 doses = 150 mg/dose
  • Answer: 150 mg per dose
300

D5W 500 mL IV is ordered to infuse over 6 hr. The drop factor of the manual IV tubing is 20 gtt/mL. How many drops per minute should you administer? Round to the nearest whole number.

  • Units of measurement: gtt/min
  • Formula: X gtt/min = Volume (mL) / Time (min) × Drop factor (gtt) / 1 mL
  • Infusion volume needed: 500 mL
  • Infusion time total: 6 hr
  • Convert units: 6 hr × 60 min/hr = 360 min
  • Set up equation: X gtt/min = 500 mL / 360 min × 20 gtt / 1 mL
  • Solve: 27.78 gtt/min
  • Answer: 28 gtt/min
300

A nurse is preparing to administer Lactated Ringer's 500 mL IV over 4 hr. The nurse should set the IV pump to deliver how many mL/hr? Round to the nearest whole number.

  • Units of measurement: mL/hr
  • Formula: mL/hr = Volume (mL) / Time (hr)
  • Infusion volume needed: 500 mL
  • Infusion time total: 4 hr
  • Conversion needed? No
  • Set up equation: 500 mL / 4 hr
  • Solve: 125 mL/hr
  • Answer: 125 mL/hr
400

Administer cephalexin 0.75 g PO. Available is cephalexin oral suspension 250 mg/5 mL. How many mL should you administer? Round to the nearest tenth.

  • Units of measurement: mL
  • Formula: D × Q / H
  • Desired dose: 0.75 g
  • Dose available: 250 mg/5 mL
  • Converting? 0.75 g × 1,000 = 750 mg
  • Set up equation: 750 mg × 5 mL / 250 mg
  • Solve: 15 mL
  • Answer: 15 mL
400

A nurse is preparing to administer ampicillin 750 mg IV piggyback. Available is ampicillin 1.5 g/10 mL after reconstitution. How many mL should the nurse withdraw to prepare the IV piggyback? Round to the nearest tenth.

  • Units of measurement: mL
  • Formula: D × Q / H
  • Desired dose: 750 mg
  • Dose available: 1.5 g/10 mL
  • Converting? 1.5 g × 1,000 = 1,500 mg
  • Set up equation: 750 mg × 10 mL / 1,500 mg
  • Solve: 5 mL
  • Answer: 5 mL
400

Valproic acid 30 mg/kg/day PO divided in equal doses every 6 hr is prescribed for a child who weighs 66 lb. Available is valproic acid oral solution 250 mg/5 mL. How many mL should the nurse administer per dose? Round to the nearest tenth.

  • Units of measurement: mL
  • Formula: D × Q / H
  • Converting? 66 lb / 2.2 = 30 kg
  • Equation: 30 mg/kg/day × 30 kg = 900 mg/day
  • Every 6 hr: 24 hr / 6 hr = 4 doses/day
  • Desired dose: 900 mg / 4 = 225 mg/dose
  • Dose available: 250 mg/5 mL
  • Set up equation: 225 mg × 5 mL / 250 mg
  • Solve: 4.5 mL
  • Answer: 4.5 mL per dose
400

Lactated Ringer's 1,200 mL IV is ordered to infuse over 10 hr. The drop factor of the manual IV tubing is 20 gtt/mL. How many drops per minute should you administer? Round to the nearest whole number.

  • Units of measurement: gtt/min
  • Formula: X gtt/min = Volume (mL) / Time (min) × Drop factor (gtt) / 1 mL
  • Infusion volume needed: 1,200 mL
  • Infusion time total: 10 hr
  • Convert units: 10 hr × 60 min/hr = 600 min
  • Set up equation: X gtt/min = 1,200 mL / 600 min × 20 gtt / 1 mL
  • Solve: 40 gtt/min
  • Answer: 40 gtt/min
400

A nurse is preparing to administer D5W 1,250 mL IV over 10 hr. The nurse should set the IV pump to deliver how many mL/hr? Round to the nearest whole number.

  • Units of measurement: mL/hr
  • Formula: mL/hr = Volume (mL) / Time (hr)
  • Infusion volume needed: 1,250 mL
  • Infusion time total: 10 hr
  • Conversion needed? No
  • Set up equation: 1,250 mL / 10 hr
  • Solve: 125 mL/hr
  • Answer: 125 mL/hr
500

Administer levothyroxine 75 mcg PO. Available is levothyroxine 0.025 mg tablets. How many tablets should you administer? Round to the nearest whole number.

  • Units of measurement: tablets
  • Formula: D × Q / H
  • Desired dose: 75 mcg
  • Dose available: 0.025 mg
  • Converting? 0.025 mg × 1,000 = 25 mcg
  • Set up equation: 75 mcg × 1 tablet / 25 mcg
  • Answer: 3 tablets
500

A nurse is preparing to administer vancomycin 750 mg IV piggyback. Available is vancomycin 1 g in 250 mL of 0.9% NaCl. How many mL will contain the prescribed dose? Round to the nearest tenth.

  • Units of measurement: mL
  • Formula: D × Q / H
  • Desired dose: 750 mg
  • Dose available: 1 g/250 mL
  • Converting? 1 g × 1,000 = 1,000 mg
  • Set up equation: 750 mg × 250 mL / 1,000 mg
  • Solve: 187.5 mL
  • Answer: 187.5 mL
500

Amoxicillin 40 mg/kg/day PO divided into 4 equal doses is prescribed for a child who weighs 55 lb. Available is amoxicillin 250 mg/5 mL. How many mL should the nurse administer per dose? Round to the nearest tenth.

  • Units of measurement: mL
  • Formula: D × Q / H
  • Converting? 55 lb / 2.2 = 25 kg
  • Equation: 40 mg/kg/day × 25 kg = 1,000 mg/day
  • Divided into 4 equal doses: 1,000 mg / 4 = 250 mg/dose
  • Dose available: 250 mg/5 mL
  • Set up equation: 250 mg × 5 mL / 250 mg
  • Solve: 5 mL
  • Answer: 5 mL per dose
500

0.9% NaCl 750 mL IV is ordered to infuse over 5 hr. The drop factor of the manual IV tubing is 15 gtt/mL. How many drops per minute should you administer? Round to the nearest whole number.

  • Units of measurement: gtt/min
  • Formula: X gtt/min = Volume (mL) / Time (min) × Drop factor (gtt) / 1 mL
  • Infusion volume needed: 750 mL
  • Infusion time total: 5 hr
  • Convert units: 5 hr × 60 min/hr = 300 min
  • Set up equation: X gtt/min = 750 mL / 300 min × 15 gtt / 1 mL
  • Solve: 37.5 gtt/min
  • Answer: 38 gtt/min
500

A nurse is preparing to administer cefazolin 1 g IV piggyback. The medication is supplied in 100 mL of 0.9% NaCl and should infuse over 30 min. The nurse should set the IV pump to deliver how many mL/hr? Round to the nearest whole number.

  • Units of measurement: mL/hr
  • Formula: mL/hr = Volume (mL) / Time (hr)
  • Infusion volume needed: 100 mL
  • Infusion time total: 30 min
  • Converting? 30 min / 60 min = 0.5 hr
  • Set up equation: 100 mL / 0.5 hr
  • Solve: 200 mL/hr
  • Answer: 200 mL/hr