Nursing Numeracy and Drug Calculations: Practice Problems

This assignment provides a comprehensive set of drug calculation practice problems designed for healthcare professionals and students. The document includes 30 numeracy and drug calculation questions covering various scenarios, such as calculating dosages based on different concentrations, converting units of measurement (e.g., mg to mcg, ml to L), and determining the volume of medication to administer. Each question presents a clinical scenario with prescribed dosages, available stock concentrations, and asks for the calculated volume or dosage. The problems cover a range of medications, including penicillin, heparin, morphine, vancomycin, diazepam, furosemide, chlorpromazine, pethidine, fluoxetine, paracetamol, buscopan, tramadol, and erythromycin, reflecting common medications used in clinical practice. The solutions are provided, allowing users to check their work and understand the correct calculation methods. This resource is valuable for nursing students, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals looking to improve their drug calculation skills and prepare for examinations or clinical practice.

NUMERACY AND DRUG CALCULATIONS
QUESTIONS 30
1. A mixture contains penicillin 250mg/5ml. How many milligrams of
penicillin are in 12.5ml?
(625)
2. Heparin 20,000 units subcutaneous is prescribed. Stock ampoules
contain 25,000 units/5ml. What volume in ml should be drawn up?
(4)
3. How much morphine in ml must be drawn up for a 7.5 mg dose if a
stock ampoule contains 15mg in 1 ml?
(0.5)
4. Calculate the volume in ml to be given in the following: Prescribed:
penicillin 500mg: Available: syrup 125mg/5ml.
(0.00008)
5. Convert the following: 85ml to L.
(0.085)
6. A patient is prescribed vancomycin 900 mg to be given
intravenously. What is the volume of stock in ml that must be drawn
up if each ampoule contains vancomycin 1g per 10ml?
(9)
7. A patient is prescribed 150mg of pethidine. The stock dose is
60mg/2ml ampoule. What volume in ml will you require?
(5)
8. A mixture contains Penicillin 250mg/5ml. How many milligrams of
penicillin are in 15ml?
(750)

9. Tom is prescribed 12.5mg of diazepam, orally. The stock available is
5mg.How many tablets should be given?
(2.5)
10. Convert the following: 0.0475g to mcg.
(47500)
11. Solve the following: 1x3.
(3)
12. A patient is prescribed Furosemide 60mg, orally. In the ward
are 40mg tablets. How many tablets should be given?
(1.5 or 1½)
13. Solve the following: 6.5 -2.5
4.0
14. Calculate the volume in ml to be given in the following:
Prescribed: chlorpromazine 35mg, available: syrup 25mg/5ml.
(200)
15. Convert the following: 10500mg to g.
(10.5g)
16. Calculate the volume in ml to be given in the following:
Prescribed Tramadol hydrochloride 75mg, available :100mg/2ml.
(( 1.5))
17. A patient is prescribed vancomycin 850mg to be given
intravenously. What is the volume of stock in ml that must be drawn
up if each ampoule contains vancomycin 1g per 10ml?

(( 8.5)
18. Solve the following: 14 x 17?
(238)
19. Heparin 12,000 units subcutaneous is prescribed. Stock
ampoules contain 25,000 units/5ml. What volume in ml should be
drawn?
(2.4)
20. A solution of contains Fluoxetine 20mg/5ml. How many
milligrams are in 10ml?
(120)
21. A solution of contains Fluoxetine 20mg/5ml. How many
milligrams are in 25ml?
(100)
22. Calculate the volume in ml to be given in the following:
Prescribed: Paracetamol 180mg, available; suspension 120mg/5ml.
(7.5)
23. A mixture contains penicillin 250mg/5ml. How many
milligrams of penicillin are in 25ml?
(1250)
24. Calculate the volume in ml to be given in the following,
prescribed: Buscopan 0.18mg, available: 0.4mg/2ml.
(0.9 ml)
25. Pethidine 60mgs is to be given intramuscularly. What is the
volume of stock in ml that must be drawn up each ampoule contains
pethidine 100mg in 2ml?
(12)
26. Calculate the volume in ml to be given in the following:
prescribed: Erythromycin 650mg, available mixture 125mg/5ml.
(26)

27. Solve 56 divide by 8.
7
28. Convert the following: 10.75mcg to mg.
(0.01075)
29. A patient is prescribed 80 mg of Tramadol Hydrochloride
injection. The stock dose is 50mg/2ml. What volume in ml will you
require?
(3.2)
30. A solution of contains Fluoxetine 20mg /5ml. How many
milligrams are 40ml?
(160).