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Dosage Calculation Competency: Study Guide With Sample Questions

The document provides guidelines for applicants taking a dosage calculation competency test, which must be passed to enroll in a nursing bridge program. It states that applicants must achieve a minimum 78% accuracy on the 28-question test, covering calculations like conversions, dosages, IV drip rates, and pediatric doses. The test will be proctored, last 90 minutes, and is available in October. Sample questions and answers are provided to demonstrate the level of calculation required.

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Armin Tordecilla Mercado
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69 views

Dosage Calculation Competency: Study Guide With Sample Questions

The document provides guidelines for applicants taking a dosage calculation competency test, which must be passed to enroll in a nursing bridge program. It states that applicants must achieve a minimum 78% accuracy on the 28-question test, covering calculations like conversions, dosages, IV drip rates, and pediatric doses. The test will be proctored, last 90 minutes, and is available in October. Sample questions and answers are provided to demonstrate the level of calculation required.

Uploaded by

Armin Tordecilla Mercado
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Study Guide with Sample Questions

Dosage Calculation Competency

• Applicants to the LPN-to-Associate Degree "Bridge"Nursing Program must document


competency indosage calculation that is equivalent to the content covered in NUR 135.
• The minimum accuracy rate is 78%, and is the same as the minimum pass rate for traditional
four• semester nursing students (those who are not LPNs) who pass NUR 135. The test has 28
questions.
• Applicants to the "bridge" program must take the dosage calculation competency test or be
currently enrolled in NUR 135.
• Applicants may take the dosage calculation competency exam once in order to demonstrate
competency. Ifan applicant does not attain at least 78% accuracy, he or she must enroll in and
pass NUR 135 before being admitted to the "bridge" program.
• Inorder to attain an accuracy rate of at least 78%, test-taken must be able to perform
the
following:
o Conversions between and within metric, apothecary and common household units
of measure used in medication administration;
o Basic dosage calculation;
o Pediatric dosag calculation based on weight and body surface area(BSA);
o I.V.drip rate calculation;
o Calculation of infusion times;
o Continuous heparin infusion calculation; and
o Critical care cafoulations (using an infusion pump or infusion device) including
calculating the mUhour rate, the dose per minute or per hour, and the dose based on
infusion rate.
• The dosage calculation competency test is given as a proctored assessment in the college's Testing
Center, located in the Library in Martin Hall.
o Test-takers may use a basic calculator that does not store data. Students may NOT use the
calculator function on their mobile phones. No other items, such as paper, books, or
electronic devices are permitted in the test room.
o "Scratch" paper will be provided as needed. All paper provided must be returned whether
or not the paper was used. For example, if three sheets of paper are provided, three sheets
must be returned .
• Test-takers must present photo identification , such as a driver's license, before being permitted to
take the test.
• Test-takers must complete the entire test in one sitting. In other words, one may not begin the test
and return to finish at a later time. Test-takers should allow at least 90 minutes for completing the
test.
• Testing is available in the Martin Hall Test Center from October 1 to October 31 during the test
center's regular hours of operation. The test must be started no later than two hours prior to
closing time.
• Test-takers will not need an appointment: however, please note the days and hours available
for testing, and the time parameters for beginning and completing the test.
• The deadline for taking the test is October 31.
• Lorrie Coe-Meade will grade the test and notify you of test grade results via your college e-
mail address.
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• The following pages containsample testquestions andanswers.

Instructions to ensure a correct answer


l. Round all answers to medication problems to the nearest tenth. Kilogram weights should be
rounded immediately, before proceeding with the problem. Otherwise, don't round until you get to
the final answer. Answers that are not correctly rounded to the nearest tenth are graded as incorrect.
For example, 3.25 is rounded to 3.3.
2. I.V. flow problems are rounded to the nearest whole drop. For example, 33.3 is rounded to 33
drops.
3. If the answer is less than 1, with no whole number before the decimal point, ALWAYS place a zero
in front of the decimal. This is a safety issue. An answer on the test not preceded by a zero as
appropriate will be graded as an incorrect notation. For example, .7 must be written as 0.7 in order
to be considered appropriate notation.
4. If the answer is 1,000 or above indicate the number with a comma.
5. ALWAYS omit terminal zeros. Answer containing terminal zeros violate patient safety standards,
and will be graded as an incorrect notation. For example 12.50 must be written as 12.5 in order to
be considered appropriate notation.
6. The answer must be labeled in correct terms. In incorrectly labeled answer is considered a wrong
answer. For example, 7 mg is not the same as 7 mL.
7. Metric units of measure are expressed indecimals; apothecary units of measure are expressed in
fractions. For example, 30 mg = Yz gr. Fractions must always be reduced to lowest terms.
8. On the test, circle your ONE final answer. If any answer in the circle in incorrect, the answer is
graded an incorrect. Ifno answer is circled, then the question is determined to be unanswered and
graded as incorrect.

Conversions
1 minim 1 gtt
2.2 lb = 1kg
15 minims = 1 mL
1 grain = 60 mg

1 mL = 15 gtt
t oz = 30 mL
1 mL I cc
t dram = 4 mL
t ern = l O mm
1t = S mL
1 inch = 2.S cm
IT lS mL

Roman Numerals

1 = I
5 = v
IO x

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Sample Problems for Basic Dosage Calculation

1. Order: Amoxicillin 0.25 g p.o. every 8 hours.


Available: Amoxicillin 125 mg tablets.
How many tablets will the nurse give per
dose?

2. Order: Zofran 8 mg p.o.t.i.d.


Available: Zofran in a 100 mL bottle labeled 4 mg/tsp.
How many mL will the nurse administer for each dose?

3. Order: Morphine gr 1/10


Available: Morphine 10 mg/mL
How many mL will the nurse
give?

Answers at the end of study guide.

Sample Problems for Pediatric


Dose Calculation Based on
Weight and BSA

4. Give Fortaz 50 mg/kg p.o. t.i.d. to a child who weighs 25.5 kg. Fortaz is available in an
oral suspension labeled 100 mg/mL. How many mL would the nurse administer per dose?

5. Give Ceclor 45 mg/kg/day p.o. in 3 divided doses for a patient who weighs 66 pounds. A 75 mL
stock medication is labeled Ceclor 125 mg/mL. How many mL would the nurse administer per
dose?

6. Give Biaxin for a child whose BSA is 0.55 m 2 . The usual adult dose is 500 mg. Biaxin is available
in an oral suspension. The 100 Ml bottle is labeled 50 mg/mL. How many mL would the nurse
give per dose?

7. Give Phenergan for a child whose BSA is 1.2 m2• The usual adult dose is 25 mg. How many
milligrams would the nurse administer for the dose?

Answers at the end of study guide.

Sample Problems for I.V. Drip Rate Calculations and Infusion Times

8. LR 125 mL/hr via gravity flow using tubing calibrated at 15 gtt/mL. Calculate the flow rate.

9. One liter NS to infuse over 24 hours using a microdrip (gravity flow). Calculate the flow
rate.

10. At the change of shift you notice 200 mL left to count in the I.V. bag. The I.V.is infusing at 80
Answers at the
mL/hr. Howend of study
much longer will the I.V. run? (Express your answer in hours and minutes.)
guide.
11. Keflin 2 g in I 00 mL DsW IVPB over 20 minutes. The I.V. tubing is 15 gtt/mL. Calculate 3
the flow rate.
Sample Problems for Continuous l.V. Heparin Drip Calculations

12. The physician writes an order for heparin 900 units/hr. The label on the I.V. bag reads: Heparin
10,000 units in 500 mL D 5 W. How many mL/hr will deliver the correct dose?

13._Administer Heparin 1,000 units/hr from an l.V. bag mixed 40,000 units in 1 L DsW. How many
mL/hr will deliver the correct amount of heparin?

14. The patient's heparin is infusing at 28 mL/hr on an infusion pwnp. The bag of fluid is mixed
20,000 units of heparin in 500 mL D 5W. What hourly dose of heparin is the patient receiving?

15. The patient's heparin drip is infusing at 11 mL/hr on an infusion pwnp. The bag of fluid is mixed
25,000 units of heparin in 250 mL DsW. What hourly dose of heparin is the patient receiving?

Answers at the end of studyguide.

Sample Problems for Critical Care Calculations for I.V. Infusions


Calculating the ml /hr Rate

16. Give Regular insulin by continuous I.V. infusion at 20 units/hr. The solution is 250 mL NS with
100 units of Regular insulin. What rate on the infusion pump will deliver the correct dose?

17. Administer a Tbeophylline drip at 40 mg/hr 1.V. The solution is 250 mL DsW + Theophylline
500 mg. What rate on the infusion pump will deliver the correct dose?
Calculating the pose per Minute or per Hour

18. Give Tridil 15 mcg/minute. Tridil is mixed 50 mg in 500 mL Ds W. What rate on the infusion
pump will deliver the correct dose?

19. Give propofol 10 mcg/kg/minute. The infusion is mixed propofol 250 mg in 250 mL DsW. The
patient weighs 168 pounds. What rate on the infusion pump will deliver the correct dose?

20. Give Nitroprusside 5 mcg/kg/minute via continuous infusion for a patient weighing 205 lbs.
Nitroprusside is available in a solution of 200 mg in 250 mL D5W. What rate on the infusion pwnp will deliver the
correct dose?

Calculating the Dose Based on Infusion Rate

21. Tridil is infusing at 15 mL/hr on an infusion pump. The drug is mixed 50 mg in 500 mL Ds W.
How many mcg/minute is the patient receiving?

22. A lidocaine drip is infusing at 30 mL/hr on an infusion device. The drug is mixed 2 g in 500 mL
DsW. How many mg/minute is the patient receiving?

23. Aminophylline is infusing at 30 mL/hr. The drug is mixed 250 mg in 500 mL D 5 W. How many
Answers at the end of study
mg/hr is the patient receiving?
guide.
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