Dosage Calculation Rn Adult Medical Surgical Online Practice Assessment 3.2

RN Adult Medical Surgical Dosage Calculator

1. Basic Dosage (Tablet/Liquid)

Formula: (Desired / Have) × Quantity

Result: —

2. IV Flow Rate (mL/hr)

Formula: Total Volume (mL) / Total Time (hr)

Result: —

3. IV Drop Rate (gtt/min)

Formula: (Volume × Drop Factor) / Time (min)

Result: —

function calculateBasicDosage() { var desired = parseFloat(document.getElementById('desiredDose').value); var have = parseFloat(document.getElementById('haveDose').value); var qty = parseFloat(document.getElementById('quantity').value); var resultElement = document.getElementById('basicResult'); if (isNaN(desired) || isNaN(have) || isNaN(qty) || have 0)"; return; } var result = (desired / have) * qty; resultElement.innerHTML = "Administer: " + result.toFixed(2) + " units/mL/tabs"; } function calculateIVRate() { var vol = parseFloat(document.getElementById('ivVolume').value); var hr = parseFloat(document.getElementById('ivHours').value); var resultElement = document.getElementById('ivRateResult'); if (isNaN(vol) || isNaN(hr) || hr 0)"; return; } var result = vol / hr; resultElement.innerHTML = "Infusion Rate: " + result.toFixed(1) + " mL/hr"; } function calculateDropRate() { var vol = parseFloat(document.getElementById('dropVolume').value); var factor = parseFloat(document.getElementById('dropFactor').value); var mins = parseFloat(document.getElementById('dropMinutes').value); var resultElement = document.getElementById('dropRateResult'); if (isNaN(vol) || isNaN(factor) || isNaN(mins) || mins 0)"; return; } var result = (vol * factor) / mins; resultElement.innerHTML = "Drop Rate: " + Math.round(result) + " gtt/min"; }

Mastering Nursing Dosage Calculations: Adult Med-Surg 3.2

In clinical practice and for the Adult Medical Surgical Online Practice Assessment 3.2, dosage calculation accuracy is non-negotiable. Safe medication administration requires a systematic approach to ensure the "Five Rights" are met, particularly the Right Dose.

Core Formulas to Memorize

Most assessment questions rely on a few foundational mathematical models:

• The Basic Formula: (D ÷ H) × Q. D is the Desired dose (what the provider ordered), H is the dose you Have on hand, and Q is the Quantity or volume the drug is contained in.
• IV Flow Rate: Total Volume (mL) ÷ Total Time (Hours) = mL per hour. This is used for electronic infusion pumps.
• Manual IV Drip Rate: (Total Volume in mL × Drop Factor) ÷ Time in Minutes = gtt/min. This is used when a pump is not available and gravity tubing is used.
• Weight-Based Dosing: Patient weight (kg) × Dosage (mg/kg). Always ensure the weight is converted from pounds (lbs) to kilograms (kg) by dividing by 2.2 first.

Critical Tips for RN Assessments

When taking the 3.2 assessment, keep these specific rules in mind:

1. Rounding: For values less than 1, round to the hundredths place (e.g., 0.75). For values greater than 1, round to the tenths place (e.g., 1.3). Always follow specific rounding instructions in the question.
2. Leading/Trailing Zeros: Use a leading zero (0.5 mg), but NEVER use a trailing zero (5 mg, not 5.0 mg) to prevent dosing errors.
3. Conversions: Memorize the basics: 1 gram = 1000 mg; 1 mg = 1000 mcg; 1 kg = 2.2 lbs; 1 teaspoon = 5 mL; 1 tablespoon = 15 mL.

Example Walkthroughs

Example 1: PO Medication
Order: Atenolol 0.05 g PO daily.
Available: 25 mg tablets.
Step 1: Convert 0.05 g to mg = 50 mg.
Step 2: (50 mg / 25 mg) × 1 Tab = 2 Tablets.

Example 2: IV Infusion
Order: 1 Liter of NS over 10 hours.
Step 1: Convert Liter to mL = 1000 mL.
Step 2: 1000 mL / 10 Hours = 100 mL/hr.

Note: This calculator is an educational tool. Always verify calculations with another licensed professional in a clinical setting according to your facility's protocol.