The Next Generation NCLEX expects nurses to be able to demonstrate dosage calculation skills that are needed for medication administration.
This is why, in this episode, you and I will learn together the most important dosage calculations.
Plus, we’ll also be answering twenty practice questions so that by the end of this episode, you’ll know your dosage conversions by heart!
I promise you, after this episode, the math will come super easily to you.
Are you ready to do this and ace the NCLEX?
Tune in now.
Conversion Chart
The following chart shows each unit of measurement and their approximate equivalent values.
| Unit of Measurement | Approximate Equivalent(s) |
| 1 kg | 2.2 lbs |
| 1 teaspoon | 5 mL |
| 1 tablespoon | 3 teaspoons
15 mL |
| 1 fluid ounce | 2 tablespoons
30 mL |
| 1 ounce (weight) | 30 g |
| 1 pound | 16 oz
480 g |
| 1 cup | 240 mL
16 tablespoons |
| 1 pint | 2 cups
480 mL |
| 1 quart | 2 pints
4 cups |
| 1 gallon | 4 quarts
8 pints 3,785 mL |
| 1 liter | 1000 mL |
Let’s Practice Some Conversions!
Question #1: Convert 6 teaspoons to tablespoons.
Answer: 2 tablespoons.
Rationale: There are 3 teaspoons in 1 tablespoon. Multiple this by 2 and the correct answer is 2 tablespoons.
Question #2: Convert 6 oz to mL.
Answer: 180 mL
Rationale: There are 30 mL in each oz. Multiply this by 6 and the correct answer is 180 mL.
Question #3: Convert 5 pints to mL.
Answer: 2400 mL.
Rationale: There are 480 mL in 1 pint. Multiply 480 mL by 5 and the correct answer is 2400 mL.
Question #4. Convert 240 mL to pints.
Answer: ½ pint.
Rationale: There are 480 mL in 1 pint. 240 mL is half of 480. You divide 480 mL by half and the correct answer is a ½ pint.
Question #5: Convert 4 tablespoons to teaspoons.
Answer: 12 teaspoons
Rationale: There are 3 teaspoons in 1 tablespoon. Multiply 4 tablespoons by 3 teaspoons to get 12 teaspoons.
Question #6. Convert 64 pints to gallons.
Answer: 8 gallons.
Rationale: There are 8 pints in 1 gallon. Divide 64 pints by 8 and the correct answer is 8 gallons.
Question #7: Convert 90 mL to oz.
Answer: 3 oz.
Rationale: There are 30 mL in 1 oz. Divide 90 mL by 30 mL and the correct answer is 3 oz.
Question #8: Convert 8 cups to mL.
Answer: 1920 mL.
Rationale: There are 240 mL in 1 cup. Multiply 240 mL by 8 cups to get 1920 mL.
Question #9: Convert 46 kg to lbs.
Answer: 101.2 lbs.
Rationale: There are 2.2 lbs in 1 kg. Multiply 46 kg by 2.2 lbs to get 101.2 lbs.
Question #10. Convert 220 lbs to kg.
Answer: 100 kg.
Rationale: 1 kg is converted to 2.2 lbs. Divide 220 lbs by 2.2 to get 100 kg.
Question #11: Convert 9 tablespoons to teaspoons.
Answer: 27 teaspoons.
Rationale: There are 3 teaspoons in 1 tablespoon. Multiply 9 tablespoons by 3 and the correct answer is 27 teaspoons.
Question #12. Convert 2.8 L to mL.
Answer: 2800 mL.
Rationale: There are 1000 mL in 1 L. Multiply 1000 mL by 2.8 L and the correct answer is 2800 mL.
Question #13. Convert 2 oz and 2 cups to mL.
Answer: 540 mL.
Rationale: 1 oz is 30 mL so 2 oz is 60 mL. Then, 1 cup is 240 mL so 2 cups is 480 mL. After multiplying these two, add 60 mL and 480 mL and the correct answer is 540 mL.
Question #14. Convert 5 teaspoons and 3 cups to mL.
Answer: 745 mL.
Rationale: There are 5 mL in each teaspoon so 5 mL x 5 teaspoons = 25 mL. Then, 1 cup is 240 mL so 240 mL x 3 cups = 720 mL. Add 25 mL and 720 mL and the correct answer is 745 mL.
Question #15. Convert 3 gallons to pints.
Answer: 24 pints.
Rationale: There are 8 pints in 1 gallon. Multiply 8 pints by 3 gallons and the correct answer is 24 pints.
Question #16: A nurse is preparing to administer 15 mL of cough syrup. If the medication cup is measured in teaspoons, how many teaspoons should the nurse administer?
Answer: 3 teaspoons.
Rationale: 1 teaspoon is 5 mL. The nurse should calculate 15 mL divided 5 mL to get the correct answer, which is 3 teaspoons.
Question #17: The healthcare provider instructed the nurse to administer a half pint of saline solution intravenously. How many milliliters is this dosage?
Answer: 240 mL.
Rationale: 1 pint is 480 mL. The nurse should calculate 480 mL divided ½ to get the correct answer, which is 240 mL.
Question #18: A nurse is calculating a medication that is prescribed at 20 mL every 6 hours. How many fluid ounces should be administered per dose?
Answer: 0.67 fl oz.
Rationale: 1 fluid ounce = 30 mL. To calculate the dose in fluid ounces, 20 mL divided 30 mL = 0.67 fl oz.
Question #19: The healthcare provider placed an order for the patient to drink 1 gallon of water daily. The nurse is calculating in pints for easier measurements. Provide the correct conversion in mL.
Answer: 3840 mL.
Rationale: There are 8 pints in 1 gallon and 1 pint is 480 mL. The nurse should take 1 pint and multiply by 8 to get 3840 mL.
Question #20: The nurse must calculate the correct medication dose that is dosed at 2 mg per kg of body weight. If the 50 year old patient weighs 150 lbs, how much medication should be administered?
Answer: 136.4 mg
Rationale: First step is to convert the weight from lbs to kg: 150 lbs divided by 2.2 lbs is 68.2 kg. Now, calculate the medication dose: multiply 68.2 kg by 2 mg/kg = 136.4 mg.
