ATI Medication Administration –
(DOSAGE CALCULATIONS)- A+
SOLUTIONS
A nurse is preparing to administer codeine 20 mg PO every 6 hr PRN pain. Available is codeine
oral solution 10 mg/ 5 mL. How many mL should the nurse administer per dose?
(Round to the nearest whole number. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.)
- ( ANS)Answer: 10 mL
Follow these steps for the Ratio and Proportion method of calculation:
Step 1: What is the unit of measurement the nurse should calculate? mL
Step 2: What is the dose the nurse should administer? Dose to administer = Desired 20 mg
Step 3: What is the dose available? Dose available = Have 10 mg
Step 4: Should the nurse convert the units of measurement? No
Step 5: What is the quantity of the dose available? 5 mL
Step 6: Set up an equation and solve for X.
Have/Quantity = Desired/X
10 mg/ 5 mL = 20 mg/ X mL
X mL = 10 mL
Step 7: Round if necessary.
Step 8: Determine whether the amount to administer makes sense. If there are 10 mg/5 mL and
the prescription reads 20 mg, it makes sense to administer 10 mL. The nurse should administer
codeine oral solution 10 mL PO every 6 hr PRN pain.
A nurse is preparing to administer eszopiclone 2,000 mcg PO to a client. How many mg should
the nurse administer?
(Round to the nearest whole number. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.)
- ( ANS)Answer: 2 mg
Follow these steps for the Ratio and Proportion method of calculation:
Step 1: What is the unit of measurement the nurse should calculate? mg
Step 2: What is the dose the nurse should administer? Dose to administer = Desired 2,000 mcg
Step 3: What is the dose available? Dose available = Have 1 mg
Step 4: Should the nurse convert the units of measurement? Yes (mcg does not equal mg)
1,000 mcg/1 mg = 2,000 mcg/X mg
X mg = 2 mg
Step 5: Round if necessary.