Question

A prescriber orders a heparin drip to run at 1600 units/hr. The pharmacy sends a bag of IV fluid with 25,000 units of heparin in 500 mL D5W. What is the hourly flow rate you will set on the IV pump?

Answer 1

Correct Answers:

32

Rationale :

🚑To find the rate, use desired dose / available dose × volume as the core formula.

📏The concentration is 25,000 units in 500 mL, which simplifies to 50 units/mL.

💉You need 1600 units/hr, so calculate 1600 ÷ 50 = 32 mL/hr.

📊This ensures the patient receives the correct heparin dose per hour according to the order.

📌Core Message

Always convert from ordered units to mL/hr using the solution’s concentration to set a safe and accurate IV pump rate.

Answer 2

Correct Answers:

12

Rationale :

🧮First convert 145 lb to kg by dividing by 2.2, giving about 66 kg.

⚖️The ordered rate is 18 units/kg/hr, so multiply 18 × 66 ≈ 1188 units/hr.

📦The IV bag concentration is 25,000 units in 250 mL, which is 100 units/mL.

⏱️Divide 1188 units/hr ÷ 100 units/mL ≈ 11.88 mL/hr, which rounds to 12 mL/hr.

📌Core Message

For weight-based drips, convert pounds to kilograms, find the total units per hour, then divide by the solution’s units per mL to get the pump rate.

Answer 3

Correct Answers:

67

Rationale :

💊The total volume to infuse is 50 mL over 45 minutes.

🕒Convert 45 minutes to hours: 45 ÷ 60 = 0.75 hours.

📐Use the formula volume ÷ time in hours, so 50 mL ÷ 0.75 hr ≈ 66.67 mL/hr.

🧪Rounding to the nearest whole number gives an IV pump rate of 67 mL/hr.

📌Core Message

For IV infusions, always convert minutes to hours and use volume ÷ time to find the correct mL/hr setting.

Answer 4

Correct Answers:

No

Rationale :

🧒A 4-year-old weighing 55 lb is about 25 kg after dividing by 2.2.

⚕️The recommended daily dose range is 50–133 mg/kg/day, so for 25 kg that is 1250–3325 mg/day.

📉The ordered regimen is 950 mg every 6 hours, which totals 3800 mg/day (4 doses in 24 hours).

📚Because 3800 mg/day exceeds 3325 mg/day, the dose is above the recommended limits.

📌Core Message

To check pediatric doses, convert weight to kg, compute the total daily dose, and compare it with the recommended mg/kg/day range to see if it is safe.

Answer 5

Correct Answers:

2

Rationale :

💼The vial concentration after reconstitution is 250 mg/mL.

🔄The ordered dose is 500 mg, and you must convert milligrams into milliliters using the concentration.

🥼Use dose ÷ concentration: 500 mg ÷ 250 mg/mL = 2 mL.

📎Drawing up 2 mL delivers the exact 500 mg dose of ceftriaxone.

📌Core Message

For IM doses, use dose ÷ concentration to find the correct mL to draw up so the patient receives the ordered milligrams.

Answer 6

Correct Answers:

400

Rationale :

🚨The total volume ordered is 100 mL to infuse over 15 minutes.

🧾Convert 15 minutes to hours: 15 ÷ 60 = 0.25 hours.

📈Use volume ÷ time in hours, so 100 mL ÷ 0.25 hr = 400 mL/hr.

⌛Setting the pump to 400 mL/hr will deliver the full dose in the prescribed 15-minute period.

📌Core Message

When an infusion is ordered over minutes, convert to hours and apply volume ÷ time to calculate the correct mL/hr rate.

Answer 7

Correct Answers:

0.75 mL

Rationale :

🧬The available concentration is 4 mg/mL, and the ordered dose is 3 mg.

🧊Use the formula dose ÷ concentration, so 3 mg ÷ 4 mg/mL = 0.75 mL.

👉This ensures the patient receives the exact 3 mg as prescribed without under- or overdosing.

🧳Choosing 0.75 mL matches the calculation and is the safest accurate volume to administer.

📌Core Message

For IM injections, calculate volume by dividing the ordered dose by the mg per mL on the vial, ensuring the correct mL is administered.

Answer 8

Correct Answers:

use of sensitivity tests
ensuring patient completes prescribed treatment

Rationale :

🦠Using sensitivity tests helps select the most effective antibiotic, reducing unnecessary broad-spectrum use.

🧫Targeted therapy from these tests decreases selection pressure that drives bacterial resistance.

✅Ensuring patients complete the full course prevents partially treated infections where resistant bacteria can survive and multiply.

🚫Stopping treatment early increases the chance that resistant organisms remain and spread, so adherence is crucial.

📌Core Message

Bacterial resistance is reduced by using culture and sensitivity testing and promoting full course adherence, which limit selective pressure on microbes.

Answer 9

Correct Answers:

superinfection

Rationale :

📄A superinfection occurs when normal flora are disrupted by antibiotics.

🦷This disruption allows opportunistic organisms to overgrow and cause a new infection.

🧻The key feature is that it is a secondary infection arising during or after treatment of a primary infection.

🩺Recognizing superinfection helps clinicians adjust therapy and possibly add targeted treatment or discontinue the offending agent.

📌Core Message

A superinfection is a secondary infection that develops when antibiotics disrupt normal flora, allowing other organisms to overgrow.

Answer 10

Correct Answers:

how quickly the drug begins to act

Rationale :

🚀The onset of action is defined as the time from drug administration until a detectable effect occurs.

🧨It focuses on how quickly the drug starts working, not how long it continues to work.

📣This is different from duration, which describes how long the effect lasts, and from peak, which is the time to maximum effect.

🛰️Understanding onset helps time medications appropriately, especially for acute symptoms like pain or shortness of breath.

📌Core Message

A drug’s onset refers to how quickly it begins to act, distinguishing it from duration and peak effect in pharmacology.

NR 275 Pharmacology Comprehension Exam

No.

1 :
A prescriber orders a heparin drip to run at 1600 units/hr. The pharmacy sends a bag of IV fluid with 25,000 units of heparin in 500 mL D5W. What is the hourly flow rate you will set on the IV pump?

2 :
The heparin protocol reads: "Begin IV heparin drip at 18u/kg/hr." Your IV bag reads Heparin 25,000u in 250 mL. Your patient weighs 145 lbs. What is the IV flow rate? (round to the nearest whole number)

3 :
Ampicillin 1 gram in 50 mL NS IVPB q6 hours over 45 minutes. What is the pump rate? (round to nearest mL)

4 :
A 4-year-old weighs 55 pounds and is to receive cefuroxime 950 mg IV every 6 hours. The recommended dose of cefuroxime for children older than 1 month is 50–133 mg/kg every 24 hours. Is the ordered dose within the recommended limits?

5 :
A patient is to receive ceftriaxone 500 mg IM q8hrs. The vial reads: Ceftriaxone 4 grams. Reconstitute with 8 mL of normal saline for a concentration of 250 mg/mL. How much will the nurse draw up?

6 :
The provider has ordered amiodarone (Cordarone) 300 mg in 100 mL to be infused over 15 min. How many mL/hr will the nurse set the pump to deliver? Round your answer to the nearest whole number.

7 :
Order: Give Dilaudid 3 mg IM q3h for pain. Available: Dilaudid 4 mg/mL ampule. How many milliliters will you administer?

8 :
Which of the following help to prevent bacterial resistance to antibiotics? (Select all that apply)

9 :
A condition that occurs when the normal flora is disturbed during antibiotic therapy which causes a secondary infection is known as:

10 :
Which of the following best describes a drug's onset?

NR 275 Pharmacology Comprehension Exam

No.

1 : A prescriber orders a heparin drip to run at 1600 units/hr. The pharmacy sends a bag of IV fluid with 25,000 units of heparin in 500 mL D5W. What is the hourly flow rate you will set on the IV pump?

2 : The heparin protocol reads: "Begin IV heparin drip at 18u/kg/hr." Your IV bag reads Heparin 25,000u in 250 mL. Your patient weighs 145 lbs. What is the IV flow rate? (round to the nearest whole number)

3 : Ampicillin 1 gram in 50 mL NS IVPB q6 hours over 45 minutes. What is the pump rate? (round to nearest mL)

4 : A 4-year-old weighs 55 pounds and is to receive cefuroxime 950 mg IV every 6 hours. The recommended dose of cefuroxime for children older than 1 month is 50–133 mg/kg every 24 hours. Is the ordered dose within the recommended limits?

5 : A patient is to receive ceftriaxone 500 mg IM q8hrs. The vial reads: Ceftriaxone 4 grams. Reconstitute with 8 mL of normal saline for a concentration of 250 mg/mL. How much will the nurse draw up?

6 : The provider has ordered amiodarone (Cordarone) 300 mg in 100 mL to be infused over 15 min. How many mL/hr will the nurse set the pump to deliver? Round your answer to the nearest whole number.

7 : Order: Give Dilaudid 3 mg IM q3h for pain. Available: Dilaudid 4 mg/mL ampule. How many milliliters will you administer?

8 : Which of the following help to prevent bacterial resistance to antibiotics? (Select all that apply)

9 : A condition that occurs when the normal flora is disturbed during antibiotic therapy which causes a secondary infection is known as:

10 : Which of the following best describes a drug's onset?

1 :
A prescriber orders a heparin drip to run at 1600 units/hr. The pharmacy sends a bag of IV fluid with 25,000 units of heparin in 500 mL D5W. What is the hourly flow rate you will set on the IV pump?

2 :
The heparin protocol reads: "Begin IV heparin drip at 18u/kg/hr." Your IV bag reads Heparin 25,000u in 250 mL. Your patient weighs 145 lbs. What is the IV flow rate? (round to the nearest whole number)

3 :
Ampicillin 1 gram in 50 mL NS IVPB q6 hours over 45 minutes. What is the pump rate? (round to nearest mL)

4 :
A 4-year-old weighs 55 pounds and is to receive cefuroxime 950 mg IV every 6 hours. The recommended dose of cefuroxime for children older than 1 month is 50–133 mg/kg every 24 hours. Is the ordered dose within the recommended limits?

5 :
A patient is to receive ceftriaxone 500 mg IM q8hrs. The vial reads: Ceftriaxone 4 grams. Reconstitute with 8 mL of normal saline for a concentration of 250 mg/mL. How much will the nurse draw up?

6 :
The provider has ordered amiodarone (Cordarone) 300 mg in 100 mL to be infused over 15 min. How many mL/hr will the nurse set the pump to deliver? Round your answer to the nearest whole number.

7 :
Order: Give Dilaudid 3 mg IM q3h for pain. Available: Dilaudid 4 mg/mL ampule. How many milliliters will you administer?

8 :
Which of the following help to prevent bacterial resistance to antibiotics? (Select all that apply)

9 :
A condition that occurs when the normal flora is disturbed during antibiotic therapy which causes a secondary infection is known as:

10 :
Which of the following best describes a drug's onset?