The ATI Dosage Calculation Proctored Exam is an essential step in nursing school, designed to test your ability to accurately calculate medication doses.
Whether you’re administering oral medications, injections, or IVs, this exam covers a variety of scenarios to ensure you’re prepared for real-life patient care situations. With the right practice, you’ll be able to confidently tackle dosage calculations and ace the exam.
To get the most out of your preparation, it’s crucial to work through realistic practice questions that mirror what you’ll encounter on the exam. Ulosca.com offers tailored study tools with a wide range of dosage calculation questions, helping you build your confidence and understanding in no time. Let’s dive into some sample questions to get you started on the right track!
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ATI Dosage Calculation Proctored Exam Questions & Answers
Here are some sample questions to help you get familiar with the types of dosage calculation problems you’ll encounter. Understanding how to approach these questions is key to mastering the exam.
Question 1:
A nurse is preparing to administer digoxin 0.125 mg PO at 9:00 a.m. At which of the following times should the nurse administer the medication?
A) 1500
B) 0900
C) 1700
D) 2100
Answer: B) 0900
Explanation: Administering the medication at the scheduled time, 0900, ensures the proper therapeutic effect and maintains consistent blood levels of the drug. It’s crucial for timing to be followed precisely to avoid either subtherapeutic or toxic effects. Medications like digoxin require careful timing to avoid complications, particularly in patients with heart conditions.
Question 2:
A nurse is preparing to administer cephalexin 0.25 g PO every 6 hr. Available is cephalexin 500 mg tablets. How many tablets should the nurse administer per dose?
A) 1 tablet
B) 1.5 tablets
C) 2 tablets
D) 3 tablets
Answer: A) 1 tablet
Explanation: 0.25 g equals 250 mg, which matches one 500 mg tablet. Therefore, the nurse should administer 1 tablet per dose.
Question 3:
A nurse is preparing to administer potassium chloride powder 20 mEq PO in 6 oz of water. How many mL of water should the nurse administer?
A) 30 mL
B) 90 mL
C) 180 mL
D) 240 mL
Answer: B) 90 mL
Explanation: 6 oz equals approximately 180 mL, so the nurse should use the appropriate amount of water to mix the potassium chloride powder.
Question 4:
A nurse is preparing to administer digoxin 250 mcg PO daily. Available is digoxin 0.125 mg tablets. How many tablets should the nurse administer?
A) 1 tablet
B) 2 tablets
C) 3 tablets
D) 4 tablets
Answer: B) 2 tablets
Explanation: 250 mcg equals 0.25 mg, and since each tablet is 0.125 mg, the nurse should administer 2 tablets to reach the prescribed dose.
Question 5:
A nurse should use which of the following units when measuring weight?
A) Gram
B) Liter
C) Meter
D) Milliliter
Answer: A) Gram
Explanation: Weight is typically measured in grams (g), which is the standard unit for mass or weight in the metric system.
Question 6:
A nurse is teaching a class about error-prone abbreviations in medication prescriptions. The nurse should include which of the following prescriptions has acceptable abbreviations?
A) Metoclopramide 10 mg IM Q6H PRN nausea
B) Desipramine 100 mg PO QD
C) Enoxaparin 30 mg sub q 2 hr before surgery
D) MSO4 10 mg IM Q3H PRN pain
Answer: A) Metoclopramide 10 mg IM Q6H PRN nausea
Explanation: “Q6H” is a standard abbreviation for “every 6 hours,” which is widely accepted in medical practice when used correctly. The other options use abbreviations that are either unclear or potentially ambiguous, such as “QD” (daily) and “MSO4” (morphine sulfate), which can lead to confusion or errors. It’s important to use clear, unambiguous terms to prevent medication errors.
Question 7:
A nurse is preparing to administer haloperidol 5 mg IM at 1715. At which of the following times should the nurse administer the medication?
A) 7:15 a.m.
B) 5:15 a.m
C) 7:15 p.m.
D) 5:15 p.m.
Answer: D) 5:15 p.m.
Explanation: The medication is scheduled for 1715, which is 5:15 p.m. in a 24-hour clock format.
Question 8:
A nurse is preparing to administer erythromycin ethylsuccinate 800 mg PO every 12 hr. Available is erythromycin ethylsuccinate suspension 400 mg/5 mL. How many mL should the nurse administer per dose?
A) 5 mL
B) 10 mL
C) 15 mL
D) 20 mL
Answer: B) 10 mL
Explanation: To calculate the required volume, the nurse needs to double the 5 mL dose that provides 400 mg, since the prescribed dose is 800 mg. Therefore, 5 mL x 2 = 10 mL. This ensures the patient receives the correct dose of erythromycin ethylsuccinate.
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ATI Dosage Calculation Proctored Exam: Sample Questions & Answers
Now that we’ve covered some essential questions, let’s work through 10 more examples from the ATI Dosage Calculation Proctored Exam to reinforce your skills.
Sample Question 1
A nurse is preparing to administer an insulin dose of 8 units subcutaneously. Available is insulin 100 units/mL. How many mL should the nurse administer?
A) 0.08 mL
B) 0.8 mL
C) 1 mL
D) 8 mL
Answer: A) 0.08 mL
Explanation: To calculate the volume, the nurse divides the prescribed dose (8 units) by the concentration (100 units/mL). This gives 8 ÷ 100 = 0.08 mL. Thus, the nurse should administer 0.08 mL to provide 8 units of insulin.
Sample Question 2
A nurse is preparing to administer lorazepam 1 mg PO. Available is lorazepam 0.5 mg tablets. How many tablets should the nurse administer?
A) 1 tablet
B) 2 tablets
C) 3 tablets
D) 4 tablets
Answer: B) 2 tablets
Explanation: Since each tablet contains 0.5 mg of lorazepam, the nurse needs to give 2 tablets to achieve the prescribed dose of 1 mg (0.5 mg x 2 = 1 mg).
Sample Question 3
A nurse is preparing to administer heparin 5000 units subcutaneously. Available is heparin 10,000 units/mL. How many mL should the nurse administer?
A) 0.25 mL
B) 0.5 mL
C) 1 mL
D) 5 mL
Answer: B) 0.5 mL
Explanation:To calculate the volume, divide the prescribed dose (5000 units) by the concentration (10,000 units/mL). This gives 5000 ÷ 10,000 = 0.5 mL. Therefore, the nurse should administer 0.5 mL to deliver 5000 units of heparin.
Sample Question 4
A nurse is preparing to administer amoxicillin 500 mg PO. Available is amoxicillin 250 mg/5 mL. How many mL should the nurse administer?
A) 5 mL
B) 10 mL
C) 12 mL
D) 15 mL
Answer: B) 10 mL
Explanation: Since 250 mg is in 5 mL, the nurse needs to administer 10 mL to provide 500 mg, as 500 mg is double the amount of 250 mg. Therefore, 5 mL x 2 = 10 mL..
Sample Question 5
A nurse is preparing to administer magnesium sulfate 2 g IV over 1 hour. Available is magnesium sulfate 4 g/5 mL. How many mL should the nurse administer?
A) 2.5 mL
B) 5 mL
C) 7.5 mL
D) 10 mL
Answer: A) 2.5 mL
Explanation: To calculate the required volume, the nurse needs to divide the prescribed dose (2 g) by the concentration (4 g/5 mL). This gives 2 ÷ 4 = 0.5, and then multiply by 5 mL (0.5 x 5 = 2.5 mL). Therefore, the nurse should administer 2.5 mL to provide the correct dose of magnesium sulfate.
Sample Question 6
A nurse is preparing to administer morphine sulfate 2 mg IV. Available is morphine sulfate 4 mg/mL. How many mL should the nurse administer?
A) 0.25 mL
B) 0.5 mL
C) 1 mL
D) 2 mL
Answer: B) 0.5 mL
Explanation: To calculate the required volume, divide the prescribed dose (2 mg) by the concentration (4 mg/mL). This gives 2 ÷ 4 = 0.5 mL. Therefore, the nurse should administer 0.5 mL to provide 2 mg of morphine sulfate.
Sample Question 7
A nurse is preparing to administer insulin glargine 20 units subcutaneously. Available is insulin glargine 100 units/mL. How many mL should the nurse administer?
A) 0.1 mL
B) 0.2 mL
C) 0.5 mL
D) 2 mL
Answer: B) 0.2 mL
Explanation: To calculate the required volume, divide the prescribed dose (20 units) by the concentration (100 units/mL). This gives 20 ÷ 100 = 0.2 mL. Therefore, the nurse should administer 0.2 mL to provide 20 units of insulin glargine.
Sample Question 8
A nurse is preparing to administer diazepam 10 mg IV. Available is diazepam 5 mg/mL. How many mL should the nurse administer?
A) 1 mL
B) 2 mL
C) 5 mL
D) 10 mL
Answer: B) 2 mL
Explanation: To calculate the required volume, divide the prescribed dose (10 mg) by the concentration (5 mg/mL). This gives 10 ÷ 5 = 2 mL. Therefore, the nurse should administer 2 mL to provide 10 mg of diazepam.
Sample Question 9
A nurse is preparing to administer lorazepam 2 mg IV. Available is lorazepam 1 mg/mL. How many mL should the nurse administer?
A) 0.5 mL
B) 1 mL
C) 2 mL
D) 5 mL
Answer: B) 2 mL
Explanation: Since the concentration is 1 mg/mL, the nurse needs to administer 2 mL to provide the prescribed dose of 2 mg (1 mg x 2 = 2 mg). Therefore, the nurse should administer 2 mL.
Sample Question 10
A nurse is preparing to administer ceftriaxone 1 g IV. Available is ceftriaxone 500 mg/vial. How many vials should the nurse administer?
A) 1 vial
B) 2 vials
C) 3 vials
D) 4 vials
Answer: B) 2 vials
Explanation: Since each vial contains 500 mg of ceftriaxone, and the prescribed dose is 1 g (1000 mg), the nurse will need to administer 2 vials (500 mg x 2 = 1000 mg). Therefore, the nurse should administer 2 vials.
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ATI Dosage Calculation Proctored Exam: Final Word
The ATI Dosage Calculation Proctored Exam is designed to ensure that you can calculate medication doses safely and accurately. By working through practice questions like the ones above, you can sharpen your skills and improve your confidence for the exam.
Ulosca’s tailored practice materials offer a great way to stay prepared, providing you with more realistic scenarios and detailed explanations.
Don’t rush—take your time to work through the questions and focus on understanding the concepts. With consistent practice and the right tools, you’ll be fully prepared to succeed in the ATI Dosage Calculation Proctored Exam! Keep practicing and believe in your ability to master these essential nursing calculations.