St.

John Fisher College

Wegmans School of Nursing
NURS 428: Patho/Pharm II
Math Competency Exam Review Guide

Math Competency Review Guide

The Math Competency is based on material from the Calculate with Confidence (2014) textbook by Deborah
Gray Morris. Please note that the review guide recommends reviewing content from chapters in the text and
completing practice problems/review to assist with your focus for studying.

Chapters 14-16: Dosage Calculations

Focus on using one of the following methods to complete dosage calculations. You do not need to know
all of the methodschoose which method works best for you.
o Ratio and Proportion Method
o Formula Method
o Dimensional Analysis Method
Chapter 17: Calculation of Oral Medications

Read the problem carefully and identify known and unknown factors
Eliminate unnecessary information
Check that what is ordered and what is available are in the same system of measurement (i.e. Grams,
mg)
If conversion is needed, convert what is ordered into what is available
Utilize the dosage calculation of choice from Chapters 14-16---Be consistent!
Be sure to label the final answer appropriately
Remember to round appropriately
o Capsules cannot be divided, so round up or down as appropriate (i.e. 0.9 capsule = 1 capsule)
o Tablets can be divided into or , so round up or down appropriately (i.e. 0.67 tablets =
tablet)
o Suspensions can be divided into tenths, so round up or down appropriately (i.e. 1.26mL= 1.3mL)
It is unusual for a patient to be prescribed more than 3 tablets/capsules per doserecheck your math if
you find that you are calculating a high dose!
Chapter 18: Calculation of Parenteral Medications

Read the problem carefully and identify known and unknown factors
Eliminate unnecessary information
Check that what is ordered and what is available are in the same system of measurement
o Be sure to read the label carefully!
If conversion is needed, convert what is ordered into what is available
Utilize the dosage calculation of choice from Chapters 14-16
3mL syringes are calibrated in 0.1 mL incrementsRound to the nearest tenth (i.e. 1.65mL = 1.7mL)
1mL syringes are calibrated in 0.01 mL incrementsRound to the nearest hundredth (i.e. 0.774mL =
0.77mL)
5mL and 10mL syringes are calibrated in 0.2 mL incrementsRound to the nearest tenth for
administration (i.e. 3.85mL = 3.9mL)
Chapter 19: Reconstitution of Solutions

Always read the medications label and instructions

Evaluate type and amount of solution needed to reconstitute medication
o May be different based on route (IV vs IM vs SQ).
Concentration should be listed on vial
o Be sure to read the label carefully! Often, the powder displaces the liquid as it dissolves and
increases the volume and the concentration may not be what is expected (see review
PowerPoint).
Be sure to use the correct diluents (i.e. 0.9%NS, sterile H20, D5)
Determine:
o Type of diluents
o Amount of diluents to add
o Strength/Concentration of medication after reconstitution
Chapter 20: Insulin Administration

Know how to accurately read the syringe

In a 50 unit syringe, each calibration = 1 unit
In a 100 unit syringe, each calibration = 2 units, therefore an odd number of units is measured between
even calibrations
Always be sure to utilize and appropriate Insulin syringe which is marked in Units, not mL
Chapter 21: Calculate the Percentage of Solute in IV Fluids

Solution strength is expressed as a percentage is equal to the grams of solute per 100mL of fluid
D5 IV fluid has 5% dextrose and 5 grams of dextrose per 100mL of IV fluid
o Example: 1 Liter of D5W
% = grams per 100mL
5% Dextrose = 5 grams Dextrose per 100mL
50 grams Dextrose in 1L bag of D5W
o Example: 1 Liter of NS + 20 mEq KCl @125mL/hour
How many mEq KCL is this patient receiving per hour?
20mEq KCl in 1000mL
? mEq KCl in 125mL (per hour)
20mEq KCl = ? mEq KCl
1000mL 125mL
(20mEq KCl)(125mL) = (?mEq KCl)(1000mL)

2500 = (1000)(?)
1000 1000

? = 2.5 mEq KCl per hour

Know the components (definition) of the following:

o NS: 0.9% normal saline
o Ns
o NS
o LR
o D5NS
o D51/2NS : 5% dextrose in 0.45% normal saline
o D51/4NS
 o D5W: 5% dextrose in water
o D10W
o D5LR
o D51/2NS with 20 mEq KCl: 5% dextrose in 0.45 NS with 20 milliequivalents potassium chloride
o D51/2NS with 10 mEq KCL
Chapter 22: Intravenous Calculations

When calculating IV flow rate using an IV pump in mL/hour, always round to the nearest whole
numberIV pumps CANNOT be set at decimal points, only whole numbers
o Example: Calculation determines that pump should be set at 24.8mL/hour 25 mL/hour
o There is some newer equipment that will allow you to infuse in tenths. However, for the
purposes of this exam, all flow rates must be rounded to a whole number!!
When calculating IV flow rate when an IV pump is NOT AVAILABLE, and the rate is calculated in
drops/minute, always round to the nearest whole numberit is NOT POSSIBLE to count drops as
decimal points, only whole numbers
o Example: Calculation determines that one cannot count 33.3 drops/minute 33 drops/minute
To determine flow rates for a pump (mL/hr)
o mL/hr = Total mL order total hours ordered
If infusion time is less than 1 hour, use ratio & proportion or dimensional analysis to determine mL/hr.
60 min = 1 hr
o Alternative method:
mL/hr = (total mL to infuse number of minutes to infuse) x 60 min/hr
Determine infusion time from volume and hourly rate ordered: total number of mL divided by the rate in
mL/hr
o Total infusion time = total number of mL to infuse mL/hr infusion rate
o Once infusion time is calculated, you can use this information to determine the time the infusion
will be completed.
Ex. If infusion time is 6 hours and the infusion starts at 0800, the infusion will end at
1400
Chapter 23: Heparin Calculations

Read the problem carefully and identify known and unknown factors
Eliminate unnecessary information
Check that what is ordered and what is available are in the same system of measurement: heparin is
dosed in units, a heparin gtt maybe be ordered in units/hour or in units/kg/hour
If conversion is needed, convert what is ordered into what is available.
If weight conversion is needed, this must be completed FIRST. Weights should be rounded to the
nearest tenth at the beginning of the problem.
Subcutaneous administration: Utilize the dosage calculation of choice from Chapters 14-16
Heparin infusions are always administered on a pump
o Calculate units/hour or mL/hr using the ratio and proportion method or dimensional analysis
method
o Calculate bolus dose and units/kg/hour.
First: convert lb to kg (2.2 lbs = 1 kg)
Second: calculate the heparin bolus dose
Example: your patient weighs 150 lbs and you must administer a 40 unit/kg bolus
of heparin prior to beginning the infusion. You will bolus from the bag of which
the concentration is 25,000 units in 250 mL. You will administer the bolus over
15 minutes through the IV pump.
o 150 lbs = 68.2 kg
 o 40 units/kg x 68.2 kg = 2,728 units
o 25,000 units in 250 mL = 100 units/mL
o 2, 728 units 100 units/mL = 27.3 mL
o 27.3 mL over 15 minutes = 109.2 mL/hour
Third: calculate the heparin infusion rate
Example: this patient will then receive a continuous infusion of 18 units/kg/hour
o 18 units/kg/hour x 68.2 kg = 1,227.6 units/hour
Fourth: calculate the rate in which to set the IV pump
o Calculate the mL/hour using the ratio and proportion method or
dimensional analysis method (answer = 12.3 mL/hour = 12 mL/hour)
Heparin gtt titration is related to the heparin gtt protocol provided and may include a bolus dose and rate
increase or a rate decrease/stoppage based on the patients aPTT.
Determine if the dose is safe! Heparin is a high alert medication.

**tPA infusions may be calculated the same way as weight based heparin infusions with a bolus dose**

Chapter 24: Critical Care Calculations

Calculations are similar to mL/hr or mg/hr, but will require more steps!
o Remember g to mg, mg to mcg conversions
o Remember hour to minute conversions
o Problems may ask for:
mL/hr
mcg/kg/min
mcg/min
o Weight must be converted first, and rounded to the nearest tenth at the beginning of the problem
After you round the weight, CLEAR YOUR CALCULATOR!
Calculate mg/hour dosages based on infusion information
o Example: A patient is receiving Dopamine 800mg in 1000mL D5W at a rate of 30mL/hour
Dopamine 800mg in 1000mL = 0.8mg Dopamine /mL
0.8mg x 30mL/hour = 24mg/hour
Calculate mg/min or mcg/min based on infusion information
o Example: A patient is receiving Pronestyl 2 g in 500 mL D5W at a rate of 60 mL/hour
Pronestyl 2 g in 500 mL = 4 mg/mL
4 mg/mL x 60 mL/hour = 240 mg/hour
240 mg/hour 60 minutes = 4 mg/min
Calculate mg/kg/min or mcg/kg/min based on infusion information
o Example: A patient is ordered Dopamine 4 mcg/kg/min. On hand is Dopamine 400 mg in 250
mL and the patient weighs 175 lb.
175 lbs = 79.5 kg
79.5 kg x 4mcg/kg/min = 318 mcg/min
318 mcg/min x 60 minutes = 19,080 mcg/hour
19,080 mcg/hour 1000 = 19.08 mg/hour
Dopamine 400 mg in 250 mL = 1.6mg/mL
Calculate mL/hour using the ratio and proportion method or dimensional analysis method
(answer = 12 mL/hour)
Chapter 25: Pediatric and Adult Dosage Calculation Based on Weight

Calculate dosages based on body weight

Remember 2.2 lbs = 1 kg
Total daily dose is the dosage obtained by multiplying the weight in kg by the total dose (mg/kg or g/kg)
Divided doses are the amount given each time the medication is administered.
o Ex. Q 8 hours = 3 times per day
o Total daily dose can be determined by multiplying the dose given x 3
Process:
o Convert weight in lbs to kg FIRST round to the nearest tenth.
o Calculate recommended dose/day or dose as ordered
The problem may ask for a safe dose range. Range = 2 numbers!
o Determine if dosage is safe
A dose is NOT safe if: It is above the recommended dose or dose range (toxic) or below
the recommended dose or dose range (subtherpeutic).