ATI Dosage Calculation and Safe Medication Administration 3.0 - Oral Medications

A nurse is preparing to administer famotidine 20 mg PO every 12 hours. Available is famotidine 40 mg tablets. How many tablets should the nurse administer per dose?

0.5 tablet Rationale: 1. 40 mg/1 tablet = 20 mg/x tablet 2. 40x = 20 3. x = 0.5 tablet

A nurse is preparing to administer hydromorphone 4 mg PO every 4 hours PRN for pain. Available is hydromorphone oral liquid 1 mg/1 mL. How many mL should the nurse administer per dose?

4 mL Rationale: 1. 1 mg/1 mL = 4 mg/x mL 2. 1x = 4 3. x = 4 mL

A nurse is preparing to administer methylprednisolone 4 mg PO daily. Available is methylprednisolone 8 mg tablets. How many tablets should the nurse administer daily?

0.5 tablets Rationale: 1. 8 mg/1 tablet = 4 mg/x tablet 2. 8x = 4 3. x = 0.5 tablet

A nurse is preparing to administer amoxicillin/clavulanate 250 mg PO to a client. Available is amoxicillin/clavulanate oral suspension 125 mg/5 mL. How many mL should the nurse administer?

10 mL Rationale: 1. 125 mg/5 mL = 250 mg/x mL 2. 125x = 1,250 3. x = 10 mL

A nurse is preparing to administer quinapril 40 mg PO daily. Available is quinapril 20 mg tablets. How many tablets should the nurse administer daily?

2 tablets Rationale: 1. 20 mg/1 tablet = 40 mg/x tablets 2. 20x = 40 3. x = 2 tablets

A nurse is preparing to administer trazodone 25 mg PO at bedtime. Available is trazodone 50 mg tablets. How many tablets should the nurse administer per dose?

0.5 tablet Rationale: 1. 50 mg/1 tablet = 25 mg/x tablet 2. 50x = 25 3. x = 0.5 tablet

A nurse is preparing to administer furosemide 60 mg PO daily. Available is furosemide 40 mg tablets. How many tablets should the nurse administer daily?

1.5 tablets Rationale: 1. 40 mg/1 tablet = 60 mg/x tablets 2. 40x = 60 3. x = 1.5 tablets

A nurse is preparing to administer methadone 2.5 mg PO every 8 hours. Available is methadone 5 mg tablets. How many tablets should the nurse administer per dose?

0.5 tablet Rationale: 1. 5 mg/1 tablet = 2.5 mg/x tablet 2. 5x = 2.5 3. x = 0.5 tablet

A nurse is preparing to administer rifampin 0.6 g PO daily. Available is rifampin 150 mg capsules. How many capsules should the nurse administer?

4 capsules Rationale: 1. 0.6 g = 600 mg 2. 150 mg/1 capsule = 600 mg/x capsules 3. 150x = 600 4. x = 4 capsules

A nurse is preparing to administer amlodipine 10 mg PO once per day to a client. The amount available is amlodipine 2.5 mg/tablet. How many tablets should the nurse administer?

4 tablets Rationale: 1. 2.5 mg/1 tablet = 10 mg/x tablets 2. 2.5x = 10 3. x = 4 tablets

A nurse is preparing to administer doxepin 75 mg PO at bedtime. Available is doxepin 50 mg tablets. How many tablets should the nurse administer?

1.5 tablets Rationale: 1. 50 mg/1 tablet = 75 mg/x tablets 2. 50x = 75 3. x = 1.5 tablets

A nurse is preparing to administer acetaminophen 325 mg PO every 6 hours. Available is acetaminophen oral suspension 160 mg/5 mL. How many mL should the nurse administer per dose? (Round to the nearest whole number.)

10 mL Rationale: 1. 160 mg/5 mL = 325 mg/x mL 2. 160x = 1,625 3. x = 10.15625 mL 4. x = 10 mL (rounded)

A nurse is preparing to administer albuterol 4 mg PO every 6 hours. Available is albuterol syrup 2 mg/5 mL. How many mL should the nurse administer per dose?

10 mL Rationale: 1. 2 mg/5 mL = 4 mg/x mL 2. 2x = 20 3. x = 10 mL

A nurse is preparing to administer doxycycline 100 mg PO every 12 hours. Available id doxycycline 50 mg tablets. How many tablets should the nurse administer per dose?

2 tablets Rationale: 1. 50 mg/1 tablet = 100 mg/x tablets 2. 50x = 100 3. x = 2 tablets

A nurse is preparing to administer diphenhydramine 25 mg PO to a client. The amount available is diphenhydramine elixir 12.5 mg/5 mL. How many mL should the nurse administer?

10 mL Rationale: 1. 12.5 mg/5 mL = 25 mg/x mL 2. 12.5x = 125 3. x = 10 mL

A nurse is preparing to administer fluoxetine 35 mg PO daily. Available is fluoxetine solution 20 mg/5 mL. How many mL should the nurse administer daily? (Round to the nearest tenth.)

8.8 mL Rationale: 1. 20 mg/5 mL = 35 mg/x mL 2. 20x = 175 3. x = 8.75 mL 4. x = 8.8 mL (rounded)

A nurse is preparing to administer potassium chloride 15 mEq PO every 12 hours. Available is potassium chloride liquid 20 mEq/15 mL. How many mL should the nurse administer per dose? (Round to the nearest whole number.)

11 mL Rationale: 1. 20 mEq/15 mL = 15 mEq/x mL 2. 20x = 225 3. x = 11.25 mL 4. x = 11 mL (rounded)

A nurse is preparing to administer lamivudine 150 mg PO every 12 hours. Available is lamivudine oral solution 10 mg/mL. How many mL should the nurse administer per dose?

15 mL Rationale: 1. 10 mg/1 mL = 150 mg/x mL 2. 10x = 150 3. x = 15 mL

A nurse is preparing to administer ethosuximide 750 mg PO daily. Available is ethosuximide syrup 250 mg/1 teaspoon . How many mL should the nurse administer?

15 mL Rationale: 1. 250 mg/1 teaspoon = 750 mg/x teaspoons 2. 250x = 750 3. x = 3 teaspoons 4. 1 teaspoon = 5 mL 5. 5 mL/1 teaspoon = x mL/3 teaspoons 6. 1x = 15 7. x = 15 mL

A nurse is preparing to administer gabapentin 1,800 mg per day divided into three equal doses. The amount available is gabapentin 300 mg capsules. How many capsules should the nurse administer per dose?

2 capsules Rationale: 1. 1,800 mg/3 doses = 600 mg/dose 2. 300 mg/1 capsule = 600 mg/x capsules 3. 300x = 600 4. x = 2 capsules

A nurse is preparing to administer lithium 600 mg PO every 8 hours. Available is lithium carbonate 300 mg capsules. How many capsules should the nurse administer?

2 capsules Rationale: 1. 300 mg/1 capsule = 600 mg/x capsules 2. 300x = 600 3. x = 2 capsules

A nurse is preparing to administer triazolam 0.25 mg PO. Available is triazolam 0.125 mg tablets. How many tablets should the nurse administer per dose?

2 tablets Rationale: 1. 0.125 mg/1 tablet = 0.25 mg/x tablets 2. 0.125x = 0.25 3. x = 2 tablets

A nurse is preparing to administer zolpidem 10 mg PO at bedtime. Available is zolpidem 5 mg tablets. How many tablets should the nurse administer per dose?

2 tablets Rationale: 1. 5 mg/1 tablet = 10 mg/x tablets 2. 5x = 10 3. x = 2 tablets

A nurse is preparing to administer amoxicillin 500 mg PO every 8 hours. Available is amoxicillin oral suspension 250 mg/5 mL. How many teaspoons should the nurse administer per dose?

2 teaspoons Rationale: 1. 250 mg/5 mL = 500 mg/x mL 2. 250x = 2,500 3. x = 10 mL 4. 1 teaspoon = 5 mL 5. 5 mL/1 teaspoon = 10 mL/x teaspoons 6. 5x = 10 7. x = 2 teaspoons

A nurse is preparing to administer magnesium gluconate 270 mg PO. Available is magnesium gluconate liquid 54 mg/5 mL. How many mL should the nurse administer?

25 mL Rationale: 1. 54 mg/5 mL = 270 mg/x mL 2. 54x = 1,350 3. x = 25 mL