HESI Dosage Calculations Practice Questions With Complete Solutions

A client with cardiogenic shock weighs 220 lb and is receiving dopamine at the rate of 3 mcg/kg/minute. The solution strength available is dopamine 400 mg in 250 ml of D5W. The nurse should set the infusion pump to deliver how many ml/hour? (Enter numeric value only. If rounding is required, round to the nearest tenth.) correct answer: 11.3 First, convert pounds to kg, 220 lb : X = 2.2 lb : 1 kg = 100 kg. Next, calculate the dosage per minute, 3 mcg/kg/min x 100 kg = 300 mcg/min. Convert mcg/min to mcg/hour, 300 mcg/min x 60 min=18,000 mcg/hour. Convert mcg/hr to mg/hour, 18,000 mcg/hr = 18.0 mg/hour. Calculate the rate, 400 mg : 250 ml = 18 mg : X ml 400X = 4500 X = 11.25 = 11.3 ml. So, 18 mg/11.3 ml should be infused at 11.3 ml/hour. A client with hypertension who weighs 72.4 kg is receiving an infusion of nitroprusside (Nipride) 50 mg in D5W 250 ml at 75 ml/hour. How many mcg/kg/minute is the client receiving? (Enter numeric value only. If rounding is required, round to the nearest tenth.) correct answer: 3.5 Calculate the mg/hour infusing, 50 mg : 250 ml = X : 75 ml 250X = 3750 and X = 15 mg/hour. Next, convert mg/hr to mcg/hour, 15 mg/hour = 1 mg / 1000 mcg = 15,000 mcg/hour, then divide by 60 min = 250 mcg/minute. Lastly, 250 mcg/72.4 kg/min = 3.45 = 3.5 mcg/kg/minute. A client who weighs 70 kg is receiving a dopamine solution of 800 mg/500 ml normal saline at 5 ml/hour. How many mcg/kg/minute is the client receiving? (Enter numeric value only. If rounding is required, round to the nearest tenth.) correct answer: 1.9 To change ml/hour to mcg/kg/minute, use the formula: desired rate (5 ml/hour) / volume available (500 ml) x dose available (800 mg) = 8 mg/hour. Next, convert milligrams/hour to mcg/kg/minute: mg (8) x 1000 / kg (70) / 60 minutes = 1.904 = 1.9 mcg/kg/minute. A client is receiving an IV solution of sodium chloride 0.9% (Normal Saline) 250 ml with amiodarone (Cordarone) 1 gram at 17 ml/hour. How many mg/minute of amiodarone is infusing? (Enter numeric value only. If rounding is required, round to the nearest tenth.) correct answer: Convert grams to mg, 1 gram equals 1,000 mg. Using ratio and proportion - 1,000 mg : 250 ml :: X mg : 1ml 250X= 1,000 so X = 4 mg/ml is the solution concentration of amiodarone. The infusion rate (ml/hour) x concentration (mg/ml) divided by 60 minutes/hour 17 ml/hour x 4 mg/ml = 68/60 = 1.13 = 1.1 mg/minute. A client who weighs 176 pounds is receiv