Dosage Calculation - Examples
A provider prescribes cephalexin 0.5 g PO q 12 hr. The amount available is 250mg/capsule. How many capsules should the nurse administer?
x cap = 1cap/250mg X 1000mg/1g X 0.5g/1 = 2 capsules
A provider prescribes magnesium hydroxide 2.4 g PO daily. Available is 400mg/5mL. How many mL should the nurse administer? (Round answer to nearest whole number)
x mL = 5mL/400mg X 1,000mg/1g X 2.4g/1 = 30 mL
A provider prescribes clonidine 300 mcg PO daily. Available is 0.3mg/tablet. How many tablets should the nurse administer?
x tablet = 1 tab/0.3mg X 1mg/1000mcg X 300mcg/1 = 1 tablet
A provider prescribes clonidine 200 mcg PO daily. Available is 0.2 mg/tablet. How many tablets should the nurse administer? Move the number of tablets into the medication cup.
x tablet = 1tab/0.2mg X 1mg/1000mcg X 200mcg/1 = 1 tablet
A provider prescribes metronidazole 2g PO before discharge. Available is 500mg/tablet. How many tablets should the nurse administer?
x tablet = 1tab/500mg X 1000mg/1g X 2g/1 = 4 tablets
A nurse is providing instruction to a client who has a new prescription for cimetidine 150 mg PO every 12 hr. Available is 300 mg/5 mL. How many tsp should the nurse instruct the client to take per dose? (Round answer to nearest tenth).
x tsp = 1 tsp/5mL X 5mL/300mg X 150mg/1 = 0.5 tsp
A nurse is reviewing instructions with a client who has a new prescription for furosemide 20 mg PO daily. Available is 8mg/mL. The nurse should instruct the client to take how many tsp daily? (Round answer to nearest tenth.
x tsp = 1tsp/5mL X 1mL/8mg X 20mg/1 = 0.5 tsp
A provider prescribes sodium polystyrene sulfonate 4 oz PO every 6 hr. Available is 60 mL/unit dose. How many unit doses should the nurse administer every 6 hrs? (Round answer to nearest whole number)
x unit doses = 1 unit dose/60 mL X 30mL/1oz X 4oz/1 = 2 unit doses
A nurse is reviewing instructions with a client who has a new order prescription for furosemide 75 mg PO daily. Available is 10mg/mL. The nurse should instruct the client to take how many tsp daily? (Round answer to nearest tenth)
X tsp = 1tsp/5mL X 1mL/10mg X 75mg/1 = 1.5 tsp
A provider prescribes magnesium hydroxide 2 oz PO daily. The amount available is 30mL/unit dose. How many unit doses should the nurse administer? (Round answer to nearest whole number)
x unite doses = 1unit dose/30mL X 30mL/1oz X 2oz/1 = 2 unit doses