Dosage Calculations

MUST SHOW WORK
Directions: Calculate each mathematical question using the appropriate equations for each. Remember to add the correct metrics with your answer. Round to the nearest tenth (one decimal place).
1. Order: Dobutamine 0.5 mcg/kg/min. Continuous IV. Patient is 211.86 lbs. Supply is Dobutamine concentration is 1mg/ml. How many mls/hr?
2. Order start Dopamine 2 mcg/kg/min continuous IV and titrate until SBP is above 90 mmHg. Patient is 174.9 lbs. Supply is Dopamine 200mg in 100 milliliters of 5% dextrose. How many ml/hr do you start with? (round to the nearest whole number)
3. The above order was titrated until the patient’s SBP was 90 mmHg. It is currently running at 8 ml/hr. How many mcg/kg/min is the patient receiving? (round to the nearest tenth)
4. The physician orders heparin 5500 units subcutaneous for deep vein thrombosis prevention. The medication is supplied in 10,000 units/mL. How many milliliters will the nurse administer? ____________________

5. The physician orders heparin 3500 units subcutaneous daily postoperatively. The medication is supplied in 5000 units/mL. How many milliliters will the nurse administer? _________

6. The physician orders penicillin G procaine 600,000 units IM for syphilis. The medication is supplied in 1,200,000 units/2 mL. How many milliliters will the nurse administer? _________

7. The physician orders Epogen 4500 units subcutaneous for red blood cell production. The medication is supplied in 4000 units/mL. How many milliliters will the nurse administer? _______

8. The physician orders dopamine 2.25 mcg/kg/min for a patient who weighs 116 lbs. How many ml/hr will the patient get if the concentration is 400 mg in 500 milliliters of 5% dextrose in water?
 

 
9. The physician orders a continuous IV morphine drip to infuse at 6 mg/h. The medication is supplied in 50 mg/50 mL. What is the infusion rate in milliliters per hour (mL/hr)?
10. The physician orders vancomycin 500 mg in 250 mL of D5W IVPB daily to infuse over 2 hours. Tubing drop factor is 15 gtt/mL. What is the drip rate in drops per a minute (gtt/min)?
11. Begin a heparin drip per the facility’s protocol. The patient’s weight is 96 kg.

Heparin Protocol

Bolus: Heparin 80 units/kg using the following concentration:

How many milliliter (mL) bolus will be given? ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­

Infusion: Heparin 18 units/kg/h using a concentration of heparin 25,000 units in 250 mL of NS (100 units/mL). How many milliliters per an hour (mL/hr) is the infusion rate? (round to a whole number)
12. Order: Begin a heparin drip per the facility’s protocol. The patient’s weight is 176 lbs.

Heparin Protocol

Bolus: Heparin 75 units/kg using the following concentration:

How many milliliter bolus will be administered?
Infusion: Heparin 18 units/kg/h using a concentration of heparin 25,000 units in 250 mL of NS (100 units/mL). How many milliliters per an hour (mL/hr) is the infusion rate? (round to a whole number)
 
13. Insert the correct responses. Do not round doses.

 
The physician orders prednisone 10 mg oral every 12 hours for a child weighing 22 lb. The prednisone syrup is available in a 5 mg/5 mL concentration. The recommended dose is 0.5 to 2 mg/kg/24 h.

a. What is the child’s weight in kilograms? __________

b. How many milligrams per kilogram per 24 hours is the patient receiving? _____

c. Is the order safe? Yes____________

d. If yes, how many milliliters are needed for each dose? _________
 
14. Insert the correct responses. Do not round doses.

 
The physician orders ibuprofen 200 mg oral every 6 hours for a child weighing 60 lb. The ibuprofen is available in a 100 mg/5 mL concentration. The recommended dose is 5 to 10 mg/kg/dose.

a. What is the child’s weight in kilograms? _______________

b. How many milligrams per kilogram per 24 hours is the patient receiving? _________

c. Is the order safe? _________________

d. If yes, how many milliliters are needed for each dose? __________________

  
15. Insert the correct responses. Do not round doses.

 
The physician orders Ancef 500 mg IV every 8 hours for a child weighing 30 lb. The Ancef is available in a 330 mg/mL concentration. The recommended dose is 100 mg/kg/24 h divided in three doses.

a. What is the child’s weight in kilograms? ___________

b. How many milligrams per kilogram per 24 hours is the patient receiving? ___________

c. Is the order safe? _____________

d. If yes, how many milliliters are needed for each dose? ______
 
16. Insert the correct responses. Do not round doses.

 
Maintenance Rate Table
  
Weight Range

Required Daily Fluid
 
0-10 kg

100 mL per kg
 
10-20 kg

1000 mL + 50 mL per kg above 10 kg
 
20-70 kg

1500 mL + 20 mL per kg above 20 kg
 
Over 70 kg

2500 mL (adult requirement)
    
 A child is to receive IV fluids at maintenance rate. The child weighs 60 lb.

a. What is the child’s weight in kilograms? _____________

b. Calculate the 24-hour fluid requirements for this patient. ____________

c. How many milliliters per hour are needed to deliver the maintenance fluids? 

More practice problems available on pages 235 – 241 and 283 – 288 in Boyer, M. J. (2015). Math For Nurses: A Pocket Guide to Dosage Calculation and Drug Preparation.