Dosage Calculation Module

PRACTICE PROBLEMS

CALCULATION OF DOSAGES FOR CONTINUOUS DRIP MEDICATIONS:

mg/min; mcg/min; mg/hr

Mg/min
1. A client is to receive Digoxin 0.35 mg/3 mL over 5 minutes. How many mg/min will the
client receive?

2. Pronestyl 2 gm in 500 mL is being administered at a rate of 80 mL/hr. Calculate the mg/min

being infused.

3. A client with bigeminy has an order for an infusion of 2 gm Lidocaine in 500 mL D5W at 60
mL/hr. Calculate the mg/min being infused.

4. A post-op cardiac bypass client is receiving Nipride at 30 gtts/min. The solution

concentration is 100 mg Nipride in 500 mL D5W. An administration set of 20 gtts/mL is
being used. Calculate the mg/min being infused.

Mcg/min
5. A solution of 400 mg dopamine HCl in 250 mL D5W is infusing at 20 gtt/min. The
administration set (drop factor) is a microdrip (60 gtt/mL). Calculate the mcg/min being
infused.

6. An infusion of dobutamine 500 mg in 250 mL D5W has a stabilizing rate of 14 mL/hr.

Calculate the mcg/min being infused.

7. Dobutrex 500 mg in 250 mL D5W has a stabilizing rate of 23 mL/hr. Calculate the mcg/min
being infused.

Mg/hr
8. A client with chronic bronchitis and a severe respiratory infection is receiving Aminophyllin
1 gm in 1000 mL 0.9% NS at 75 mL/hr. Calculate the mg/hr the client is receiving.

9. A client with aspiration pneumonia has an order for Aminophyllin 250 mg in 500 mL D5W.
His IV is set for 60 mL/hr. How many mg/hr is the client receiving?

10. An IV of 500 mL containing 3 gm of medication is ordered to infuse @ the rate of 20 mL/hr.

How many mg/hr is the client receiving?

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Dosage Calculation Module
Practice Problems
Page Two

CALCULATION OF DOSAGES FOR CONTINUOUS DRIP MEDICATIONS: units/hr

Units/hr

11. Heparin 32,000 units/1000 mL of 5% D/W is ordered for your client. The infusion rate is 30
mL/hr. How many units of heparin is the client receiving per hour?

12. Heparin 100,000 units/1000 mL of 5% D/NS is ordered for your client. The infusion rate is
45 mL/hr. How many units of heparin is the client receiving per hour?

13. An IV of 7000 units of heparin in 1000 mL D5W is infusing at 35 gtt/min with the use of an
administration set of 20 gtt/mL. Calculate how many units of heparin the client is receiving
per hr.

CALCULATION OF DOSAGES FOR CONTINUOUS DRIP MEDICATIONS:

mcg/kg/min; unit/kg/hr

Mcg/kg/min

14. A client is to receive 300 mg of a medication in 250 mL D5W at 14 mL/hr. The client weighs
86.7 kg. Calculate the mcg/kg/min.

15. A client is to receive 450 mg of a medication in 250 mL D5W at 12 mL/hr. The client weighs
180 lb. Calculate the mcg/kg/min.

16. A client is to receive 375 mg of a medication in 250 mL D5W at 15 mL/hr. The client weighs
210 lb. Calculate the mcg/kg/min.

Unit/kg/hr

17. Heparin 800,000 units/1000 mL of 5% D/NS is ordered for your client. The infusion rate is
25 mL/hr. Your client weighs 132 lbs. Calculate the unit/kg/hr your client is receiving.

18. Heparin 50,000 units/1000 mL of 5% D/W is ordered for your client. The infusion rate is 45
mL/hr. Your client weighs 180 pounds. Calculate the unit/kg/hr your client is receiving.

19. Heparin 1000 units/250 mL of D5W is ordered for your client. The infusion rate is 30 mL/hr.
The client weighs 100 pounds. How many units of heparin is the client receiving per kg per
hr?

Dosage Calculation Module

Practice Problems
Page Three
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 INFUSION RATES FOR CONTINUOUS DRIP MEDICATIONS

CALCULATION OF INFUSION RATES FOR CONTINUOUS DRIP MEDICATIONS

mL/hr if given mg/min

20. You have an order to give an IV bolus of Lidocaine for ventricular tachycardia followed by a
drip of 2 mg/min. You add Lidocaine 4 gm to 500 mL of normal saline. How fast should the
IV infuse in mL/hr?

21. Lidocaine is ordered at 2 mg/min. You add Lidocaine 5 gm to 1000 mL of D5W. How fast
should the IV infuse in mL/hr?

mL/hr if given mcg/min

22. A client is receiving levophed at 3 mcg/min to keep his systolic B/P > 100 mm Hg. The
solution being titrated has 7 mg Levophed in 250 mL D5W. Calculate the flow rate in
mL/hr.

mL/hr if given unit/hr

23. Your client is to receive an insulin drip at 10 units/hr. There are 500 units regular insulin in
250 mL 0.9% NS. How fast should the IV infuse in mL/hr?

24. Your client is to receive a heparin drip at 1300 units/hr. You have added 20,000 units of
heparin to 500 mL 0.9% NS. How fast should the IV infuse in mL/hr?

25. Your client is on a heparin drip with 20,000 units in 500 mL 0.9% NS. The physician orders
the IV to run at 1000 units/hr. How fast should the IV infuse in mL/hr?

26. Your client is on a heparin drip with 40,000 units in 1000 mL. NS. It had been running at
1100 units/hr. Your patient’s APTT is now 65 seconds and the physician has ordered the
rate decreased to 700 units/hr.

a. What is the present rate in mL/hr?

b. What will be the new rate in mL/hr?

Dosage Calculation Module

Practice Problems
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CALCULATION OF INFUSION RATES FOR CONTINUOUS DRIP MEDICATIONS

mL/hr if given mcg/kg/min

27. A client weighing 150 pounds has a Dopamine drip (400 mg in 250 mL D5W). The physician
orders the drip to run at 2 mcg/kg/min. How fast would you run the IV in mL/hr?

28. Your client is to receive Dobutrex 500 mg in 250 mL 0.9% NS at 5 mcg/kg/min. Your client
weighs 153 pounds. How fast the IV infuse in mL/hr?

29. A client is to receive amrinone 250 mg in 250 mL 0.9% NS at 3 mcg/kg/min. Your client
weighs 227 lbs. What is the infusion rate in mL/hr?

30. Your client is to have Dobutrex 250 mg in 250 mL 0.9% NS which is to infuse at 7
mcg/kg/min. Your client weighs 219 pounds. How fast should the IV infuse in mL/hr.

31. Your client is to have a Dopamine drip with 400 mg in 250 mL of 5% DW which is to infuse
at 6 mcg/kg/min. Your client weighs 133 pounds. What is the infusion rate in mL/hr?

mL/hr if given unit/kg/hr

32. Your client is to receive Heparin at 14 units/kg/hr. He weighs 200 lbs. You have Heparin
25,000 units in 250 mL NS. How many mL/hr will you run the IV pump?

33. Your client (who weighs 80 kg) is to have his Heparin drip (25,000 units in 250 mL NS)
increased to 10 units/kg/hr. What is the infusion rate in mL/hr?

Dosage Calculation Module

Practice Problems
Page Five

Answers:

1. 0.07 mg/min
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2. 5.33 mg/min
3. 4 mg/min
4. 0.3 mg/min
5. 533.33 mcg/min
6. 466.67 mcg/min
7. 766.67 mcg/min
8. 75 mg/hr
9. 30 mg/hr
10. 120 mg/hr
11. 960 Units/hr
12. 4500 Units/hr
13. 735 Units/hr
14. 3.23 mcg/kg/hr
15. 4.4 mcg/kg/hr
16. 3.93 mcg/kg/hr
17. 333.33 Units/kg/hr
18. 27.51 Units/kg/hr
19. 2.64 Units/kg/hr
20. 15 mL/hr
21. 24 mL/hr
22. 6.4 mL/hr
23. 5 mL/hr
24. 32.5 mL/hr
25. 25 mL/hr
26. a. 27.5 mL/hr; b. 17.5 mL/hr
27. 5.1 mL/hr
28. 10.4 mL/hr
29. 18.6 mL/hr
30. 41.8 mL/hr
31. 13.6 mL/hr
32. 12.7 mL/hr
33. 8 mL/hr