1

Medication Calculation Practice Problems

LEVEL II, III and IV
1. The order reads for digoxin 0.125 mg IM daily. Available to the nurse is digoxin 0.25 mg/ml. The nurse
would administer how many ml’s?
2. The order is for 60 mg of furosemide (Lasix) po daily. Available to the nurse is Lasix 40 mg/tablet. The
nurse would administer how many tablets?
3. The physician orders phenytoin (Dilantin) 100 mg po. Available to the nurse is Dilantin 125 mg/ml. The
nurse would administer how many ml’s?
4. The order reads for digoxin 0.5mg po. Available to the nurse is digoxin 0.25 mg/tablet. The nurse would
administer how many tablets?
5. The order is for Bactrim 0.5G po. Available to the nurse is Bactrim 250mg/tablet. The nurse would
administer how many tablets?
6. The physician orders propanolol (Inderal) 80 mg po daily. Available to the nurse is Inderal 20 mg/tablet.
The nurse would administer how many tablets?
7. The physician orders alprazolom (Xanax) 0.25 mg. Available to the nurse is alprazolom 0.5 mg/tablet. The
nurse would administer how many tablets?
8. The order is for risperidone (Risperdal) 1 mg po daily. Available to the nurse is risperidone 0.5 mg/ tablet.
The nurse would administer how many tablets?
9. The physician’s order is for levothyroxine (Synthroid) 1000 mcg to treat the client’s hypothyroidism.
Available to the nurse is Synthroid 1 mg per tablet. The nurse would administer how many tablets?
10. The order is for digoxin elixir 0.125 mg po qd. Available to the nurse is digoxin elixir 0.25 mg per 10 ml.
The nurse would administer how many teaspoons?
11. The physician orders phenytoin (Dilantin) 150 mg po tid. Available to the nurse is phenytoin (Dilantin) 125
mg/4 ml. The nurse would administer how many ml’s per dose?
12. The order is for ampicillin 0.5 g po q 6hours. Available to the nurse is ampicillin 250 mg/tablet. The nurse
would administer how many tablets per dose?
13. The physician orders sulfisoxazole (Gantrisin) 400 mg po q 12 hours. Available to the nurse is Gantrisin
0.5 g/2 ml. The nurse would administer how many ml’s per dose?
14. The order is for morphine sulfate 3 mg subcutaneous every 4 hours prn. Available to the nurse is morphine
sulfate gr ¼ per ml. The nurse would administer how many ml’s per dose?
15. The order is for codeine sulfate gr ¾ po q 3-4 prn pain. Available to the nurse is codeine sulfate 30
mg/tablet. The nurse would administer how many tablets per dose?
16. The order is for lactulose 20 g via the ng tube bid. Available to the nurse is lactulose 10 g/15 ml. The nurse
would administer how many ounces per dose?
17. The physician orders morphine sulfate gr. ¼ IM. Available to the nurse is morphine sulfate 10 mg/ml. The
nurse would administer how many ml’s?
18. The order is for phenobarbital gr ¼ po qid. Available to the nurse is phenobarbital 60 mg/tablet. The nurse
would administer how many tablets per dose?
19. The physician orders glycopyrolate (Robinul) 150 mcg IM stat. Available to the nurse is Robinul 0.2
mg/ml. The nurse will administer how many ml’s?
20. The order is for trifluoperazine hydrochloride (Stelazine) 15 mg po q 6 hours. Available to the nurse is
Stelazine 10 mg/tablet. The nurse would administer how many tablets per dose?
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21. The physician orders ampicillin (Ampicin) 100 mg po q 6 hours. Available to the nurse is ampicillin 250
mg/5 ml. The nurse would administer how many ml’s per dose?
22. The physician orders metalazone (Zaraxolyn) 7.5 mg po daily. Available to the nurse is Zaroxolyn 5
mg/tablet. The nurse would administer how many tablets?
23. The order is for digoxin elixir 0.125 mg po daily. Available to the nurse is digoxin elixir 0.25 mg/10 ml. The
nurse would administer how many teaspoons?
24. The order is for Dilantin 100 mg po twice a day. Available to the nurse is Dilantin 125 mg/4 ml. The nurse
would administer how many ml’s per dose?
25. The order is for Ativan 2 mg IM. Available to the nurse is Ativan 4 mg/ml. The nurse would administer how
many ml’s?
26. The order is for Morphine Sulfate 10 mg IM. Available to the nurse is Morphine Sulfate gr ¼ per ml. The
nurse would administer how many ml’s?
27. The order is for Augumentin 0.5 g p.o. q8h. Available to the nurse is Augmentin 400 mg/5 ml. The nurse
would administer how many ml/dose?
28. The IV order is for 1000 ml D5NS every 8 hours. How many ml/hour will the client receive?
29. The IV order is for 1000 ml D5/NS @ 83 ml/hour. How long will it take the IV to infuse?
30. The IV order is for 1000 ml D5W every 12 hours. The IV bag is hung at 1030 hours. At what time should
the IV be completed?
31. The physician orders penicillin G 1,000,000 units IVPB in 100 ml of NS to infuse over 0.25 hours. The IV
tubing delivers 10gtts/ml. The rate of the infusion will be how many gtts/min?
32. The IV order is for 1000 ml D5W with 40 mEq KCL every 8 hour. The IV tubing delivers 10 gtts/minute.
The rate of the IV will be how many gtts/minutes?
33. The order is for 100 ml D5W with 1000 mg of ampicillin IVPB every 6 hours. The IV tubing delivers 10
gtts/ml. The instructions from the pharmacist state to infuse over 30 minutes. The rate of the infusion will be
how many gtts/minutes?
34. The order is for 50 ml D5W with 750 mg Cipro IVPB every 8 hours. The IV tubing delivers 10 gtts/ml. The
instructions are to infuse over 0.25 hours. The rate of the infusion will be how many gtts/minutes?
35. The order is for 250 ml of NS with erythromycin 500 mg every 6 hour. The IV tubing delivers 10 gtts/ml.
Instructions are to infuse the IVPB over 45 minutes. The rate of the infusion will be how many gtts/minute?
36. Acyclovir 400 mg in 100 ml of D5W is ordered to infuse over 0.25 hours. The IV tubing delivers 10 gtt/ml.
The rate of the infusion will be how many gtts/min?
37. The physician orders gentamycin 60 mg IVPB every 12 hours. Available to the nurse is 50 ml D5W with 60
mg of gentamycin with instructions to infuse over 30 minutes. The IV tubing delivers 20 gtts/ml. The rate of
the IVPB will be how many gtts/min?
38. The order is for 1000 ml D5NS every 10 hours. The IV tubing delivers 10 gtts/ml. The IV is placed on an
infusion pump. The nurse would set the pump infusion rate at how many ml/hr?
39. The physician’s order is for 3000 ml of D45 NaCl every 24 hour. The IV tubing delivers 15 gtts/ml. How
many ml/hr will the client receive?
40. The IV order is for 1000 ml D5W with 40 mEq KCl every 12 hours. The IV tubing delivers 10 gtts/ml. The
rate of the infusion will be how many gtts/minute?
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Level III and IV
41. The physician’s order is for two Tylenol #4 (codeine 60 mg with acetaminophen 500 mg) po prn every 6
hours. The maximum dose of acetaminophen is 4 g per 24 hours. The client has already received 4 tablets
today. How many more tablets could the client safely receive within the 24hour timeframe?
42. The physician’s order is for filgrastim (Neupogen) 0.3 mg/kg. The client weighs 110 pounds. Available to
the nurse is Neupogen 50 mg per 3 ml. The nurse would administer how many ml’s?
43. The order is for Epogen 300 units/kg subcutanously today. The client weighs 150 pounds. Available to the
nurse is Epogen 20,000 units/ml. The nurse would administer how many ml’s?
44. The physician’s order is for nitroglycerine 200 micrograms IV stat. Available to the nurse is a vial of
nitroglycerine labeled 0.8mg/ml. The nurse would administer how many ml’s?
45. Furosemide 10 mg IVP q 12 hour is ordered for the client in CHF. Available to the nurse is furosemide 20
mg/2 ml. How many ml’s of the mixture will the nurse administer?
46. The diabetic client’s order is for 16 units of NPH insulin subcutaneously every morning and Regular insulin
according to the following sliding scale:
151 - 200 2 units
201 - 250 4 units
251 – 300 6 units
301 – 350 8 units
351 – 400 10 units
>400 – Call physician
The client’s blood sugar is 236. The nurse would administer a total of how many units of insulin?
47. The physician orders morphine sulfate 2 mg IVP q 3 hours prn. Available to the nurse is 10 mg/ml. The
agency’s policy is to mix the ampule with 0.9% NaCl to achieve a total of 10 ml. The nurse would
administer how many ml’s?
48. The physician’s order is for acetaminophen 500 mg every 4 hours po prn. The maximum dose of
acetaminophen is 4 g per 24 hours. Based on the order, how many tablets could the client safely receive in a
24hour period?
49. The physician’s order is for (What medication?) 0.3 mg/kg daily x 3. The client weighs 8 pounds.
Available to the nurse is 0.3 mg/ml. The nurse would administer how many ml’s?
50. The diabetic client’s order is for 13 units of NPH insulin subcutaneously every morning and Regular insulin
according to the following sliding scale:
151 - 200 2 units
201 - 250 4 units
251 – 300 6 units
301 – 350 8 units
351 – 400 10 units
>400 – Call physician
The client’s blood sugar is 236. The nurse would administer a total of how many units of insulin?
51. The physician orders morphine sulfate 2 mg IVP q 3 hours prn. Available to the nurse is 10 mg/ml. The
agency’s policy is to mix the ampule with 0.9% NaCl to achieve a total of 10 ml. The nurse would
administer how many ml’s?
52. Synthroid 1 mcg/ kg IVP is ordered for the client who weighs 165 lbs. Available to the nurse is Synthroid
0.1 mg/ml. The nurse will administer how many ml’s?
53. The order is for Bumex 4 mg IVP stat. A vial of 20 ml labeled Bumex 1 mg per 0.5 ml. The nurse would
administer how many ml’s?
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54. Lovenox 1 unit/kg subcutaneously bid is ordered for the client at a risk for a DVT. The client weighs 132
pounds. Available to the nurse is Lovenox 50 units/ml. The nurse would administer how many ml’s?
55. The diabetic client is to receive 12 units of NPH at 1600 hours and regular insulin according to the
following sliding scale:
201 – 250 2 units
251 – 300 4 units
301 – 350 6 units
351 – 400 8 units
>400 call the physician
The 1600 blood sugar is 196. The nurse would administer a total of how many units of insulin?
56. The physician orders morphine sulfate 3 mg IVP. Available to the nurse is a ampule of morphine labeled 10
mg/ml. The agency’s policy is to mix the ampule with 0.9% NaCl to achieve a total of 10 ml. The nurse
would administer how many ml’s?
57. The physician order is for 1000 ml of D5/.45 NS every 6 hours. The IV tubing delivers 15 gtts/ml. The IV is
placed on an infusion pump. At what rate will the nurse set the infusion pump?
58. 500 ml of D5W with 0.5 g theophylline is ordered to infuse at 50 ml/hour. How many mg/hour will the
client receive per hour?
59. The order is for 250 ml of D5W with 1500 mg vancomycin every 18 hours. The pharmacist’s instructions
state to infuse the IVPB via an infusion pump over 90 minutes. At what rate will the IV pump be set?
60. The client’s heparin drip is ordered to be increased to 2200 units/hour. The heparin drip of 250 ml D5W
with 25,000 units of heparin is currently infusing at 1800 units/hour. At how many ml/hour will the heparin
drip now infuse?
61. The order is for the client to receive a heparin drip at 900 ml/hour. Available to the nurse is 250 ml D5W
with 25,000 units of heparin. The IV tubing delivers 10gtts/ml. How many units of heparin will the client
receive per hour?
62. The order is for theophylline 24 mg/hour. Available to the nurse is 1000 ml D5W with 2 g of theophylline.
The nurse would set the rate on the infusion pump at how many ml/hour?
63. A heparin drip is ordered to infuse at 1100 units/hour. Available to the nurse is 250 ml D5W with 25,000
unit of Heparin. How many ml/hr will the client receive?
64. The order is for Kefzol 500 mg IVPB every 6 hours. Available to the nurse is 50 ml of D5W with 500 mg
of Kefzol with instructions to infuse 0.50 hours. The IVPB is to infuse via an infusion pump. At how many
ml’s/hour will the nurse set the pump at?
65. The order is for 250 ml D5W with 25,000 units of heparin to infuse at 850 units per hour. The client would
receive how many ml/hour?
66. The physician’s order is for 1000 ml D5NS to infuse at 150 ml/hr. The IV tubing delivers 10 gtts/ml. The
rate of the infusion will be how many gtts/min?
67. The physician orders 100 ml of D5W with 20mEq KCl to infuse at 10 mEq/hour. The rate of the infusion
will be how many ml/hr?
68. The heparin drip is infusing at 19 ml/hour. Available to the nurse is 250 ml of D5W with 25,000 units of
heparin. The IV tubing delivers 12 gtts/minute. How many units/hour is the client receiving?
69. The order is for Kefzol 0.5G IVPB in 100ml 5% D/W to run over 15 minutes. The IVPB is to infuse via an
infusion pump. The IV tubing delivers 10 gtts/ml. The rate of the infusion will be how many ml’s/hour?
70. The order is for 1200 mg of vancomycin in 150 ml of D5W to infuse over 90 minutes via an infusion pump.
At what rate would the nurse set the infusion pump?
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71. 1000 ml D5W with a 100 mg of Thiamine is ordered for the client with cirrhosis. The order is to infuse the
thiamine at 5mg/hr. The IV is placed on an infusion pump. The rate of the infusion will be how many
ml/hr?
72. The physician’s order is for 10 units of Regular Insulin/hour. Available to the nurse is 250 ml NS with 125
units of Regular Insulin with instructions to infuse with an infusion pump. The rate of the infusion will be
how many ml/hr?
73. Calcium gluconate 2000 mg in 100 ml D5W is ordered to infuse at 2 g/hr. The rate of the infusion via an
infusion pump will be how many ml/hr?
74. Diltiazem 5 mg/hr is ordered via an infusion pump. Available to the nurse is 250 ml NS with diltiazem 125
mg. The rate of the infusion will be how many ml/hr?
75. Aqueous penicillin G 1 million units is ordered IVPB every 6 hours. Available to the nurse is 100 ml D5W
with 1 million units of Penicillin G with instructions to infuse over 40 minutes via an infusion pump. The
rate of the infusion pump will be how many ml’s/hour?
76. Digoxin 2 mcg/ kg IVP is ordered for the client who weighs 165 lbs. Available to the nurse is digoxin 0.1
mg/ml. The nurse will administer how many ml’s?
77. The order is for regular insulin 3 units/hour. Available to the nurse is 1000 ml D5W with 100 units of
regular insulin. The nurse would set the rate of the infusion pump at how many ml/hour?
78. The order is for KCl 20 mEq in a 100 ml of IV fluid to infuse via an infusion pump over 2 hours. At what
rate will the nurse set the IV pump?
79. The physician orders the client to receive a bolus of 80 units of heparin per kg of body weight. The client
weighs 130 pounds. Available to the nurse is a vial of heparin labeled 10,000 units/ml. The nurse would
administer how many ml’s? Following administration of the bolus, a heparin drip at 1800 units/hour is to be
started. Pharmacy prepares the heparin drip, 250 ml of D5W with 25,000 unit of Heparin. The rate of the
infusion will be how many ml/hr?
80. A 250 ml IVPB is ordered to infuse over 75 minutes. The IVPB is placed on an infusion pump. The IV
tubing delivers 15 gtts/ml. The rate of the infusion will be set at how many ml/hour?
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ANSWERS

1. 0.5 ml 41. 4 tablets

2. 1.5 tablets 42. 0.9 ml
3. 0.8 ml 43. 1.02 ml
4. 2 tablets 44. 0.25 ml
5. 2 tablets 45. 1 ml
6. 4 tablets 46. 20 units
7. 0.5 tablet 47. 2 ml
8. 2 tablets 48 6
9. 1 tablet 49. 3.64 ml or 3.6 ml
10. 1 tsp 50. 17 units
11. 4.8 ml 51. 2 ml
12. 2 tablets 52. 0.75 ml
13. 1.6 ml 53. 2 ml
14. 0.2 ml 54. 1.2 ml
15. 1.5 tablets 55. 12 units
16. 1 ounce 56. 3 ml
17. 1.5 ml 57. 166.6 ml/hr or 167 ml/hr
18. 0.25 tablet 58. 50 mg/hr
19. 0.75 ml 59. 166.6 ml/hr or 167 ml/hr
20. 1.5 tablets 60. 22 ml/hr
21. 2 ml 61. 90,000 units/hr
22. 1.5 tablets 62. 12 ml/hr
23. 1 tsp. 63. 11 ml/hr
24. 3.2 ml 64. 100 ml/hr
25. 0.5 ml 65. 8.5 ml/hr
26. 0.67 ml 66. 25 gtt/min
27. 6.25 ml 67. 50 ml/hr
28. 125 ml 68. 1900 units/hr
29. 12 hours 69. 400 ml/hr
30. 2230 hours 70. 99.99 ml/hr or 100 ml/hr
31. 66.66 gtts/min or 67 gtt/min 71. 50 ml/hr
32. 20.83 gtts or 21 gtts/min 72. 20 ml/hr
33. 33.33 gtts/min or 33 gtts/min 73. 100 ml/hr
34. 33.33 gtts/min or 33 gtts/min 74. 10 ml/hr
35. 55.55 gtts/min or 56 gtts/min 75. 150 ml/hr
36. 66.66 gtts/min or 67 gtts/min 76. 1.5 ml
37. 33.33 gtts/min or 33 gtts/min 77. 30 ml/hr
38. 100 ml/hr 78. 50 ml/hr
39. 125 ml/hour 79. 0.47 ml and 18 ml/hour
40. 13.8 gtts/min or 14 gtts/min 80. 200 ml/hr

07/06