HomeFree NORCET Exams Preparation Series NORCET Exams Preparation Series - Day 1 ( Drugs Calculation ) September 13, 2026 0 NORCET Nursing Foundation – Drug Calculation Test 01 50 MCQs • 50 Marks • 30 Minutes Calculation-Based + Clinical Scenario-Based Questions Student Details Full Name Email Start Test Test Progress 30:00 Q1. The prescribed dose is 500 mg. Available tablets contain 250 mg each. How many tablets should be administered? A. 0.5 tablet B. 1 tablet C. 2 tablets D. 4 tablets Answer: C. 2 tablets Formula: Dose required ÷ Dose available = 500 ÷ 250 = 2 tablets. Q2. A patient is prescribed 750 mg of a medication. The available tablets contain 250 mg each. How many tablets are required? A. 1 tablet B. 2 tablets C. 3 tablets D. 4 tablets Answer: C. 3 tablets 750 mg ÷ 250 mg = 3 tablets. Q3. The prescribed dose is 1 g. How many milligrams does this equal? A. 10 mg B. 100 mg C. 500 mg D. 1000 mg Answer: D. 1000 mg 1 gram = 1000 milligrams. Q4. A prescription requires 2.5 g of a medication. How many milligrams is this? A. 250 mg B. 500 mg C. 2500 mg D. 5000 mg Answer: C. 2500 mg 2.5 × 1000 = 2500 mg. Q5. The order is for 0.5 g. How many milligrams should the nurse calculate? A. 50 mg B. 100 mg C. 500 mg D. 5000 mg Answer: C. 500 mg 0.5 g × 1000 = 500 mg. Q6. A liquid medication contains 250 mg in 5 mL. The prescribed dose is 500 mg. How many mL should be administered? A. 2.5 mL B. 5 mL C. 10 mL D. 15 mL Answer: C. 10 mL 250 mg is available in 5 mL. For 500 mg, double the volume: 10 mL. Q7. A syrup contains 125 mg in 5 mL. The prescribed dose is 250 mg. What volume is required? A. 2.5 mL B. 5 mL C. 10 mL D. 15 mL Answer: C. 10 mL 125 mg → 5 mL. Therefore, 250 mg → 10 mL. Q8. A medication is available as 100 mg/2 mL. The prescribed dose is 50 mg. How many mL are needed? A. 0.5 mL B. 1 mL C. 2 mL D. 4 mL Answer: B. 1 mL 100 mg → 2 mL. Therefore, 50 mg → 1 mL. Q9. A vial contains 400 mg in 4 mL. The ordered dose is 200 mg. How much should be drawn? A. 0.5 mL B. 1 mL C. 2 mL D. 4 mL Answer: C. 2 mL 400 mg → 4 mL. Half the dose, 200 mg, requires half the volume = 2 mL. Q10. The prescribed dose is 75 mg. Available tablets contain 50 mg each. What is the calculated number of tablets? A. 0.5 tablet B. 1 tablet C. 1.5 tablets D. 2 tablets Answer: C. 1.5 tablets 75 ÷ 50 = 1.5 tablets. Whether the tablet can safely be split must be verified. Q11. An IV infusion contains 1000 mL and is prescribed over 8 hours. What is the infusion rate in mL/hour? A. 100 mL/hr B. 125 mL/hr C. 150 mL/hr D. 175 mL/hr Answer: B. 125 mL/hr Rate = Volume ÷ Time = 1000 ÷ 8 = 125 mL/hr. Q12. A patient is prescribed 500 mL IV fluid over 5 hours. What is the rate? A. 50 mL/hr B. 75 mL/hr C. 100 mL/hr D. 125 mL/hr Answer: C. 100 mL/hr 500 ÷ 5 = 100 mL/hr. Q13. An IV infusion of 1500 mL is ordered over 12 hours. What is the hourly rate? A. 100 mL/hr B. 125 mL/hr C. 150 mL/hr D. 175 mL/hr Answer: B. 125 mL/hr 1500 ÷ 12 = 125 mL/hr. Q14. An IV set has a drop factor of 15 gtt/mL. A patient must receive 300 mL over 2 hours. What is the approximate flow rate in drops/minute? A. 25 gtt/min B. 30 gtt/min C. 38 gtt/min D. 45 gtt/min Answer: C. 38 gtt/min Formula: (Volume × Drop factor) ÷ Time in minutes. (300 × 15) ÷ 120 = 37.5, rounded to 38 gtt/min. Q15. An IV order is 500 mL over 4 hours with a drop factor of 20 gtt/mL. What is the approximate flow rate? A. 32 gtt/min B. 42 gtt/min C. 52 gtt/min D. 62 gtt/min Answer: B. 42 gtt/min (500 × 20) ÷ 240 = 41.67, rounded to 42 gtt/min. Q16. An infusion pump is set to deliver 120 mL over 2 hours. What rate should be programmed? A. 40 mL/hr B. 60 mL/hr C. 80 mL/hr D. 120 mL/hr Answer: B. 60 mL/hr 120 ÷ 2 = 60 mL/hr. Q17. A child weighs 20 kg. A medication is prescribed at 10 mg/kg/day in two equally divided doses. What is the amount per dose? A. 50 mg B. 100 mg C. 200 mg D. 400 mg Answer: B. 100 mg Daily dose = 20 × 10 = 200 mg/day. Two doses/day → 200 ÷ 2 = 100 mg per dose. Q18. A child weighs 15 kg. The prescribed dose is 20 mg/kg/day in 4 divided doses. What is the dose per administration? A. 50 mg B. 75 mg C. 100 mg D. 150 mg Answer: B. 75 mg Daily dose = 15 × 20 = 300 mg/day. 300 ÷ 4 = 75 mg per dose. Q19. A child weighs 25 kg. The prescribed medication dose is 8 mg/kg/day. What is the total daily dose? A. 100 mg B. 150 mg C. 200 mg D. 250 mg Answer: C. 200 mg 25 kg × 8 mg/kg = 200 mg/day. Q20. A medication is ordered at 5 mg/kg/dose. The patient weighs 30 kg. What is the dose? A. 50 mg B. 100 mg C. 150 mg D. 200 mg Answer: C. 150 mg 5 × 30 = 150 mg per dose. Q21. A patient weighs 70 kg. A drug is prescribed at 2 mg/kg/dose. What is the calculated dose? A. 70 mg B. 100 mg C. 140 mg D. 280 mg Answer: C. 140 mg 70 × 2 = 140 mg. Q22. A medication is supplied as 1 mg/mL. The ordered dose is 0.5 mg. What volume should be administered? A. 0.25 mL B. 0.5 mL C. 1 mL D. 2 mL Answer: B. 0.5 mL 0.5 mg ÷ 1 mg/mL = 0.5 mL. Q23. A medication contains 2 mg/mL. The prescribed dose is 6 mg. How many mL are required? A. 1 mL B. 2 mL C. 3 mL D. 6 mL Answer: C. 3 mL 6 mg ÷ 2 mg/mL = 3 mL. Q24. A vial contains 1000 units/mL. The prescribed dose is 500 units. What volume is required? A. 0.25 mL B. 0.5 mL C. 1 mL D. 2 mL Answer: B. 0.5 mL 500 units ÷ 1000 units/mL = 0.5 mL. Q25. A patient is prescribed 7500 units of a medication. The vial contains 10,000 units/mL. What volume is required? A. 0.25 mL B. 0.5 mL C. 0.75 mL D. 1.5 mL Answer: C. 0.75 mL 7500 ÷ 10,000 = 0.75 mL. Q26. A patient is prescribed 40 mg of a drug. Available concentration is 20 mg/2 mL. What volume is needed? A. 1 mL B. 2 mL C. 4 mL D. 8 mL Answer: C. 4 mL 20 mg → 2 mL. Therefore, 40 mg → 4 mL. Q27. An IV medication contains 500 mg in 10 mL. The ordered dose is 125 mg. How many mL should be administered? A. 1.25 mL B. 2.5 mL C. 5 mL D. 7.5 mL Answer: B. 2.5 mL 500 mg → 10 mL. 125 mg is one-fourth of 500 mg, so volume = 2.5 mL. Q28. A medication order is 0.25 mg. The available concentration is 0.5 mg/mL. What volume is required? A. 0.25 mL B. 0.5 mL C. 1 mL D. 2 mL Answer: B. 0.5 mL 0.25 ÷ 0.5 = 0.5 mL. Q29. A patient requires 2 mg of a medication. The available solution contains 4 mg/mL. What volume should be given? A. 0.25 mL B. 0.5 mL C. 1 mL D. 2 mL Answer: B. 0.5 mL 2 mg ÷ 4 mg/mL = 0.5 mL. Q30. A patient weighs 80 kg. The medication is prescribed at 0.1 mg/kg/dose. What is the calculated dose? A. 4 mg B. 6 mg C. 8 mg D. 10 mg Answer: C. 8 mg 80 × 0.1 = 8 mg. Q31. A patient weighs 60 kg. The order is 15 mg/kg/day in 3 equally divided doses. What is the dose per administration? A. 100 mg B. 200 mg C. 300 mg D. 900 mg Answer: B. 300 mg 60 × 15 = 900 mg/day. 900 ÷ 3 = 300 mg per dose. Q32. A 40 kg patient is prescribed 5 mg/kg/day divided into two doses. What is the dose per administration? A. 50 mg B. 100 mg C. 150 mg D. 200 mg Answer: B. 100 mg 40 × 5 = 200 mg/day. 200 ÷ 2 = 100 mg per dose. Q33. An IV medication is ordered at 25 mL/hour. How much fluid will be infused in 4 hours? A. 50 mL B. 75 mL C. 100 mL D. 125 mL Answer: C. 100 mL 25 mL/hr × 4 hr = 100 mL. Q34. An infusion pump is running at 80 mL/hour. How much fluid will be infused in 3 hours? A. 160 mL B. 200 mL C. 240 mL D. 300 mL Answer: C. 240 mL 80 × 3 = 240 mL. Q35. A 1000 mL IV bag is running at 125 mL/hour. Approximately how long will the bag take to infuse? A. 4 hours B. 6 hours C. 8 hours D. 10 hours Answer: C. 8 hours 1000 ÷ 125 = 8 hours. Q36. An IV order is 250 mL over 2 hours. What pump rate is required? A. 100 mL/hr B. 125 mL/hr C. 150 mL/hr D. 200 mL/hr Answer: B. 125 mL/hr 250 ÷ 2 = 125 mL/hr. Q37. A patient needs 100 mL over 30 minutes using an infusion pump. What rate should be programmed? A. 100 mL/hr B. 150 mL/hr C. 200 mL/hr D. 250 mL/hr Answer: C. 200 mL/hr 30 minutes = 0.5 hour. 100 ÷ 0.5 = 200 mL/hr. Q38. A medication is available as 250 mg/5 mL. The ordered dose is 375 mg. What volume is required? A. 5 mL B. 6 mL C. 7.5 mL D. 10 mL Answer: C. 7.5 mL 250 mg → 5 mL. 375 mg ÷ 250 mg × 5 = 7.5 mL. Q39. A medication is supplied at 80 mg/2 mL. The prescribed dose is 120 mg. How many mL are needed? A. 2 mL B. 2.5 mL C. 3 mL D. 4 mL Answer: C. 3 mL 80 mg → 2 mL. 120 mg is 1.5 times 80 mg, therefore 2 × 1.5 = 3 mL. Q40. The prescribed dose is 0.75 g. How many milligrams is this? A. 75 mg B. 250 mg C. 500 mg D. 750 mg Answer: D. 750 mg 0.75 × 1000 = 750 mg. Q41. A patient is prescribed 1.2 g of a medication. The available tablets contain 400 mg each. How many tablets are required? A. 1 tablet B. 2 tablets C. 3 tablets D. 4 tablets Answer: C. 3 tablets 1.2 g = 1200 mg. 1200 ÷ 400 = 3 tablets. Q42. A nurse calculates a dose and obtains a result that is much higher than the usual dose range. What should the nurse do? A. Administer it immediately B. Recheck the calculation, units and order before administration C. Reduce the dose independently D. Ignore the result Answer: B. Recheck the calculation, units and order before administration An unexpectedly high result is a safety warning. Recheck the arithmetic, units, concentration, patient factors and prescription, and clarify discrepancies before administration. Q43. A medication order is written as 0.5 mg, but the nurse accidentally reads it as 5 mg. What type of error is most likely? A. Decimal-point/number interpretation error B. Route error only C. Patient identification error D. Documentation error only Answer: A. Decimal-point/number interpretation error 0.5 mg and 5 mg differ by a factor of 10. Decimal and number misinterpretation can result in serious medication errors. Q44. Which notation is safest for expressing half a milligram? A. .5 mg B. 0.5 mg C. 0.50 mg D. 00.5 mg Answer: B. 0.5 mg A leading zero should be used for doses less than 1. Writing 0.5 mg reduces the risk of misreading the dose. Q45. Which notation should generally be avoided because it can be misread as a larger dose? A. 0.5 mg B. 5 mg C. 5.0 mg D. 50 mg Answer: C. 5.0 mg A trailing zero after a whole-number dose can be misread. For example, 5.0 mg may be interpreted as 50 mg. Write 5 mg instead. Q46. A patient weighs 2 kg. The prescribed dose is 10 mg/kg/dose. What is the calculated dose? A. 5 mg B. 10 mg C. 20 mg D. 40 mg Answer: C. 20 mg 2 kg × 10 mg/kg = 20 mg per dose. Q47. A child weighs 12 kg. The medication order is 15 mg/kg/dose. The available solution is 90 mg/5 mL. How many mL should be administered? A. 5 mL B. 8 mL C. 10 mL D. 12 mL Answer: C. 10 mL Required dose = 12 × 15 = 180 mg. 90 mg → 5 mL. 180 mg → 10 mL. Q48. A patient is ordered 600 mg of a medication. Available concentration is 150 mg/5 mL. What volume should be administered? A. 10 mL B. 15 mL C. 20 mL D. 25 mL Answer: C. 20 mL 150 mg → 5 mL. 600 mg is 4 times 150 mg, so 5 × 4 = 20 mL. Q49. A nurse calculates an IV rate of 83.33 mL/hr. What should the nurse do when using an infusion pump? A. Automatically round without checking policy B. Follow the device and institutional rounding requirements C. Double the rate D. Ignore the calculation Answer: B. Follow the device and institutional rounding requirements The calculated value may need rounding according to the infusion device and institutional policy. Never choose an arbitrary rounding method. Q50. A nurse is preparing a medication and discovers that the concentration on the vial is different from the concentration used in the calculation. What is the priority action? A. Administer the calculated volume anyway B. Recalculate using the actual concentration and verify the order before administration C. Guess the volume D. Ask the patient to calculate it Answer: B. Recalculate using the actual concentration and verify the order before administration A different concentration changes the required volume. The calculation must be redone using the actual product concentration and the order must be verified before administration. Submit Test Test Result Retry Test Tags: Free NORCET Exams Preparation Series Facebook Twitter