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Medication Calculation Practice Questions

This document provides examples and explanations of key concepts for dosage calculations related to intravenous (IV) medication administration. It defines important IV terms like gtts (drops), drop factor, and flow rate. It also lists common IV medication abbreviations. The examples demonstrate calculations for determining volumes of medication based on ordered dosages and available concentrations. They also show calculations for setting IV flow rates based on volume to be infused and time period.

Uploaded by

Luis Rivera
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© © All Rights Reserved
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852 views4 pages

Medication Calculation Practice Questions

This document provides examples and explanations of key concepts for dosage calculations related to intravenous (IV) medication administration. It defines important IV terms like gtts (drops), drop factor, and flow rate. It also lists common IV medication abbreviations. The examples demonstrate calculations for determining volumes of medication based on ordered dosages and available concentrations. They also show calculations for setting IV flow rates based on volume to be infused and time period.

Uploaded by

Luis Rivera
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Example: Potassium chloride is available as 

10 mg per tablet. Potassium Chloride (K-Dur), 40


mg, is ordered. How many tablets would the nurse administer?
Ordered
 =  Y (Tablets Required)
Have
40 mg
 =   4 tablets
10 mg

The following is an overview of key IV concepts which are useful for dosage calculation
problems. 

Important IV Terms
 gtts: drops
 Drop Factor: Number of drops per volume of IV fluid. Varies depending on the tubing
used. Usually measured in gtts/mL.
 Flow Rate: Measure of the flow of liquid from an IV. Usually measured in gtts/minute
(how many drops are released every minute) or in mL/hour (how many mL flow through
each hour). gtts/minute is used for manually regulating an IV while mL/hour is used
when utilizing an electronic IV regulator.

Important IV Abbreviations
 D: Dextrose
 W: Water
 S: Saline
 NS: Normal Saline (0.9% NaCl)
 RL or LR: Lactated Ringer's

Example: D5W = 5% Dextrose in Water 


Example: D5 ¼ NS = 5% dextrose in 0.225% saline solution 

Example: Phenytoin (Dilantin), 0.1 g PO, is ordered to be given through a nasogastric tube.


Phenytoin is available as 30 mg / 5 mL. How much would the nurse administer?
Ordered
x Volume Per Have  =  Y (Liquid Required)
Have
Convert 0.1 g to mg.

 0.1 g x 1,000 = 100 mg


100 mg
x 5 mL  =   16.7 mL
30 mg

Example: Ordered Lasix 40 mg IV push now. Available: 80 mg in 1 mL. How much will the
nurse draw up?
Ordered
x Volume Per Have  =  Y (Liquid Required)
Have
40 mg
x 1 mL  =   0.5 mL
80 mg

Example: Order: Administer 30 units insulin. In your stock vial there is 100 units per 1 mL.
What is the number of units you will need to draw up for this patient?
Think ? what is being asked here. You only need to give the 30 units. The other information is
just a distractor.

Volume/Time - IV mL Rate Questions


Given a certain amount of liquid and a time period, what is the necessary IV flow rate in mL/hr?
Measurement used when IV regulated electronically by infusion pump. 

Formula: 
Volume (mL)
 =  Y (Flow Rate in mL/hr)
Time (hr)

Example: Infuse 250 mL over the next 120 minutes by infusion pump.


Volume (mL)
 =  Y (Flow Rate in mL/hr)
Time (hr)
Convert 120 minutes to hours.

 120 min ÷ 60 = 2 hr
250 mL
 =   125 mL/hr
2 hr

Example: Ordered 1000 mL D5W IV to infuse in 10 hours by infusion pump.


Volume (mL)
 =  Y (Flow Rate in mL/hr)
Time (hr)
1000 mL
 =   100 mL/hr
10 hr

Example: Solumedrol 1.5 mg/kg is ordered for a child weighing 74.8 lb. Solumedrol is available
as 125 mg / 2mL. How many mL must the nurse administer?
Weight in Kg * Dosage Per Kg  =  Y (Required Dosage)
Convert 74.8 lb to kg.
 74.8 lb ÷ 2.2 = 34 kg

Multiply child’s weight by ordered dose


 =  51 mg
34 kg * 1.5 mg/kg
 Now 51 mg is ordered and the medication is available as 125 mg / 2 mL.
Ordered
x Volume Per Have  =  Y (Liquid Required)
Have
51 mg
x 2 mL  =   0.82 mL
125 mg

Example: Order: Give Heparin 20units/Kg, subcutaneously. Med comes in 5,000 units/ml.
Patient weighs 14kg. How many mls will you give?
Weight in Kg * Dosage Per Kg  =  Y (Required Dosage)

Multiply child’s weight by ordered dose

14kg X 20 units/kg = 280units

Ordered
x Volume Per Have
Have
280units/5000units x ml = 0.056ml

Example: Calculate the IV flow rate for 1200 mL of NS to be infused in 6 hours. The infusion
set is calibrated for a drop factor of 15 gtts/mL.

Convert 6 hours to minutes.


 6 hr x 60 = 360 min
Volume (mL)
x Drop Factor (gtts/mL)  =  Y (Flow Rate in gtts/min)
Time (min)
1200 mL
x 15 gtts/mL  = 50gtts/min
360 min

Example: Calculate the IV flow rate for 2000 mL of NS to be infused at 250 mL/hr. The
infusion set is calibrated for a drop factor of 15 gtts/mL.

 At 250 mL/hr, 2000mL will infuse for 8 hrs {480 mins}


Volume (mL)
x Drop Factor (gtts/mL)  =  Y (Flow Rate in gtts/min)
Time (min)
2000mL
x 15 gtts/mL  = 62.5gtts/min
480 min

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