Question

A nurse reviews a medication order and finds that it is incomplete, lacking dosage information. What should the nurse do next?

Answer 1

Correct Answers:

Contact the prescriber to obtain the missing dosage information before administering the medication.

Rationale :

💊A medication order must be complete (client, drug, dose, route, time, and frequency) before the nurse can safely administer it.

⚖️Giving a drug without a specified dose violates legal and professional standards for medication administration.

🧠By contacting the prescriber for clarification, the nurse ensures accurate prescribing and avoids making unauthorized clinical decisions about dose.

🛡️This action prioritizes client safety, reduces the risk of medication errors, and maintains proper interprofessional communication.

📌Core Message

Ensuring complete and clarified orders from the prescriber before giving a medication protects client safety and legal accountability.

Answer 2

Correct Answers:

1

Rationale :

📏The ordered dose is 12.5 mg, and the available concentration is 12.5 mg in 5 mL, so the entire 5 mL contains the required dose.

🧪Using the formula (desired dose ÷ available dose) × volume, we get (12.5 ÷ 12.5) × 5 mL = 5 mL.

🥄Because 1 teaspoon equals 5 mL, 5 mL corresponds exactly to 1 teaspoon.

🛡️Accurate dose and unit conversion prevents underdosing or overdosing and helps maintain safe pediatric medication administration.

📌Core Message

Using the dose formula and knowing 5 mL = 1 tsp allows the nurse to safely convert milliliters to teaspoons for liquid medications.

Answer 3

Correct Answers:

Dosing should be based on the child's weight, and medications like acetaminophen can be given as needed.

Rationale :

🧸Pediatric dosing is calculated using the child’s weight in kilograms, because infants have different pharmacokinetics than adults.

💊For a 6-month-old with fever after immunization, acetaminophen is an appropriate antipyretic when given in a weight-based dose.

⚖️Using weight-based dosing helps avoid both underdosing (ineffective treatment) and overdosing (risk of toxicity).

🧠Teaching parents about weight-based medication dosing improves safe home administration and reduces harmful medication practices.

📌Core Message

Safe infant fever management relies on weight-based dosing of appropriate drugs like acetaminophen, reflecting infants’ unique drug handling compared with adults.

Answer 4

Correct Answers:

4.1

Rationale :

⚖️First convert the client’s weight: 29 lb ÷ 2.2 ≈ 13.2 kg, which is needed for mg/kg/day calculations.

📏The daily dose is 50 mg/kg/day, so 50 × 13.2 ≈ 660 mg per day of erythromycin.

⏱️The medication is given every 6 hours, which is 4 doses per day, so 660 mg ÷ 4 ≈ 165 mg per dose.

🧪The suspension is 200 mg in 5 mL (40 mg/mL), so 165 mg ÷ 40 mg/mL ≈ 4.1 mL per dose, rounded to the nearest tenth.

📌Core Message

For mg/kg/day problems, convert lb to kg, calculate the total daily dose, divide by the number of doses, then use the concentration to find mL per dose.

Answer 5

Correct Answers:

Yes, because the total daily dose is 900 mg, which is within the safe range of 700 mg to 1400 mg.

Rationale :

⚖️First convert the child’s weight: 77 lb ÷ 2.2 = 35 kg, needed to calculate the mg/kg/day range.

📏The prescription is 300 mg every 8 hours, which totals 300 × 3 = 900 mg per day.

🧮The safe range is 20–40 mg/kg/day, so 20 × 35 = 700 mg and 40 × 35 = 1400 mg, giving a safe range of 700–1400 mg/day.

🛡️Because 900 mg/day lies between 700 and 1400 mg/day, the ibuprofen order is within the safe daily range for this child.

📌Core Message

By converting weight to kilograms, calculating the total daily dose, and comparing it with the 20–40 mg/kg/day range, the nurse verifies that 900 mg/day is safe.

Answer 6

Correct Answers:

1 tsp

Rationale :

🥄The prescription is for 5 mL of amoxicillin, which must be taught in teaspoons for client understanding.

📏The standard conversion is 5 mL = 1 teaspoon, a critical medication measurement fact.

🧠Explaining doses using teaspoons helps clients understand how much medication to measure at home, though a measuring device is preferred.

🛡️Correct mL-to-teaspoon conversion prevents accidental overdose or underdose when clients administer liquid medications.

📌Core Message

Knowing 5 mL = 1 tsp allows the nurse to translate prescribed milliliter doses into clear teaspoon instructions for clients.

Answer 7

Correct Answers:

Double-check the medication dosage with another nurse before administration.

Rationale :

⚠️High-alert medications have a greater risk of causing serious harm if errors occur, so they require extra safety precautions.

👥An independent double-check by two nurses helps identify errors in dose, drug, or route before the medication reaches the client.

📋This practice is part of standardized high-alert safety protocols for drugs such as insulin, heparin, and certain IV medications.

🛡️Using a second nurse verification significantly reduces the likelihood of adverse drug events and enhances client safety.

📌Core Message

High-alert medications require independent double-checks by another nurse to reduce medication errors and protect client safety.

Answer 8

Correct Answers:

1.5

Rationale :

🧮To find how many capsules are needed, divide the ordered dose (450 mg) by the available strength (300 mg per capsule).

📏450 mg ÷ 300 mg per capsule = 1.5 capsules, the exact number of units required.

📊Rounding to the nearest tenth, as instructed, keeps the answer at 1.5, since it already has one decimal place.

🧠This uses the standard solid-dose formula: dose required ÷ dose on hand = number of units to give.

📌Core Message

Using required dose ÷ available strength yields 1.5 capsules, demonstrating the standard approach for calculating solid oral medication units.

Answer 9

Correct Answers:

15 mL

Rationale :

📏The order is for 0.5 oz of apple juice, which needs conversion to milliliters for accurate measurement.

🧪The standard conversion is 1 oz = 30 mL, so 0.5 × 30 mL = 15 mL.

🥤Giving 15 mL ensures the exact ordered volume is used to mix or administer the medication.

🛡️Correct ounce-to-milliliter conversion is crucial to avoid dose and volume errors in medication administration.

📌Core Message

Applying 1 oz = 30 mL shows that 0.5 oz is 15 mL, ensuring accurate liquid volume measurement for medication administration.

Answer 10

Correct Answers:

16 fluid ounces

Rationale :

📏In the apothecary system, 1 pint is equal to 16 fluid ounces, a key volume relationship.

📚Understanding pint-to-ounce conversions helps when medication quantities are labeled in different measurement systems.

🧠Teaching caregivers that a pint equals 16 ounces improves their ability to interpret labels and instructions accurately.

🛡️Correct unit conversion supports safe preparation and dosing of liquid medications, especially in pediatric care.

📌Core Message

Recognizing that 1 pint = 16 fluid ounces allows accurate apothecary-to-household conversions and supports safe liquid medication dosing.

NR 414 Medication Administration & Dosage Calculation Exam

No.

1 :
A nurse reviews a medication order and finds that it is incomplete, lacking dosage information. What should the nurse do next?

2 :
A nurse is preparing to administer diphenhydramine 12.5 mg PO every 6 hr. Available is diphenhydramine syrup 12.5 mg/5 mL. How many tsp should the nurse administer per dose? (Round the answer to the nearest whole number. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.) tsp

3 :
When teaching a parent about pediatric dosing for a 6-month-old infant's fever after immunization, which of the following statements regarding medication should the nurse emphasize?

4 :
A nurse is preparing to administer erythromycin 50 mg/kg/day PO divided in equal doses every 6 hr. to a client who weighs 29 lb. Available is erythromycin suspension 200 mg/5 ml. How many mL should the nurse administer per dose? (Round the answer to the nearest tenth.) ml

5 :
A child weighing 77 lb. is prescribed Ibuprofen 300 mg PO q8h. Calculate the total daily dose prescribed 20-40 mg/kg/day PO. Is it within the safe range?

6 :
A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client who has a prescription for amoxicillin 5 mL PO. How many teaspoons (tsp) should the nurse instruct the client to take?

7 :
A nurse is administering a high-alert medication to a client. Which of the following actions should the nurse take to prevent an adverse drug event (ADE)?

8 :
A nurse is preparing to administer lithium 450 mg PO daily. Available is lithium 300 mg capsules. How many capsules should the nurse administer? (Round the answer to the nearest tenth. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.) capsule(s)

9 :
A nurse is preparing to administer furosemide 20 mg PO in 0.5 oz of apple juice. How many ml. of apple juice will the nurse administer? (Round the answer to the nearest whole number. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.)

10 :
When teaching a parent about apothecary measurements, how should a nurse explain the conversion of 1 pint of liquid medication into fluid ounces for pediatric dosing?

NR 414 Medication Administration & Dosage Calculation Exam

No.

1 : A nurse reviews a medication order and finds that it is incomplete, lacking dosage information. What should the nurse do next?

2 : A nurse is preparing to administer diphenhydramine 12.5 mg PO every 6 hr. Available is diphenhydramine syrup 12.5 mg/5 mL. How many tsp should the nurse administer per dose? (Round the answer to the nearest whole number. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.) tsp

3 : When teaching a parent about pediatric dosing for a 6-month-old infant's fever after immunization, which of the following statements regarding medication should the nurse emphasize?

4 : A nurse is preparing to administer erythromycin 50 mg/kg/day PO divided in equal doses every 6 hr. to a client who weighs 29 lb. Available is erythromycin suspension 200 mg/5 ml. How many mL should the nurse administer per dose? (Round the answer to the nearest tenth.) ml

5 : A child weighing 77 lb. is prescribed Ibuprofen 300 mg PO q8h. Calculate the total daily dose prescribed 20-40 mg/kg/day PO. Is it within the safe range?

6 : A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client who has a prescription for amoxicillin 5 mL PO. How many teaspoons (tsp) should the nurse instruct the client to take?

7 : A nurse is administering a high-alert medication to a client. Which of the following actions should the nurse take to prevent an adverse drug event (ADE)?

8 : A nurse is preparing to administer lithium 450 mg PO daily. Available is lithium 300 mg capsules. How many capsules should the nurse administer? (Round the answer to the nearest tenth. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.) capsule(s)

9 : A nurse is preparing to administer furosemide 20 mg PO in 0.5 oz of apple juice. How many ml. of apple juice will the nurse administer? (Round the answer to the nearest whole number. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.)

10 : When teaching a parent about apothecary measurements, how should a nurse explain the conversion of 1 pint of liquid medication into fluid ounces for pediatric dosing?

1 :
A nurse reviews a medication order and finds that it is incomplete, lacking dosage information. What should the nurse do next?

2 :
A nurse is preparing to administer diphenhydramine 12.5 mg PO every 6 hr. Available is diphenhydramine syrup 12.5 mg/5 mL. How many tsp should the nurse administer per dose? (Round the answer to the nearest whole number. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.) tsp

3 :
When teaching a parent about pediatric dosing for a 6-month-old infant's fever after immunization, which of the following statements regarding medication should the nurse emphasize?

4 :
A nurse is preparing to administer erythromycin 50 mg/kg/day PO divided in equal doses every 6 hr. to a client who weighs 29 lb. Available is erythromycin suspension 200 mg/5 ml. How many mL should the nurse administer per dose? (Round the answer to the nearest tenth.) ml

5 :
A child weighing 77 lb. is prescribed Ibuprofen 300 mg PO q8h. Calculate the total daily dose prescribed 20-40 mg/kg/day PO. Is it within the safe range?

6 :
A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client who has a prescription for amoxicillin 5 mL PO. How many teaspoons (tsp) should the nurse instruct the client to take?

7 :
A nurse is administering a high-alert medication to a client. Which of the following actions should the nurse take to prevent an adverse drug event (ADE)?

8 :
A nurse is preparing to administer lithium 450 mg PO daily. Available is lithium 300 mg capsules. How many capsules should the nurse administer? (Round the answer to the nearest tenth. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.) capsule(s)

9 :
A nurse is preparing to administer furosemide 20 mg PO in 0.5 oz of apple juice. How many ml. of apple juice will the nurse administer? (Round the answer to the nearest whole number. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.)

10 :
When teaching a parent about apothecary measurements, how should a nurse explain the conversion of 1 pint of liquid medication into fluid ounces for pediatric dosing?