Practice questions
Nursing numeracy practice questions with answers
Twelve worked questions covering the main drug calculation topics.
12 practice questions
Use a calculator and write down each step. Check units before you start.
1. Tablets
A patient is prescribed 250 mg. Tablets are 125 mg each. How many tablets?
Show answer+
250 ÷ 125 = 2 tablets.
2. Oral liquid
Prescribed 400 mg. The liquid is 200 mg in 5 ml. How many ml?
Show answer+
400 ÷ 200 × 5 = 10 ml.
3. Injection
Prescribed 7.5 mg. The injection is 10 mg/ml. How many ml?
Show answer+
7.5 ÷ 10 = 0.75 ml.
4. Dose by weight
A child weighing 12 kg is prescribed 15 mg/kg. The syrup is 250 mg in 5 ml. How many ml?
Show answer+
15 × 12 = 180 mg. 180 ÷ 250 × 5 = 3.6 ml.
5. Micrograms
Prescribed 0.25 mg. Tablets are 125 micrograms. How many tablets?
Show answer+
0.25 mg = 250 micrograms. 250 ÷ 125 = 2 tablets.
6. Infusion rate
1000 ml is to run over 8 hours by pump. What rate in ml/hour?
Show answer+
1000 ÷ 8 = 125 ml/hour.
7. Drip rate
500 ml over 4 hours with a 20 drops/ml giving set. Drops per minute?
Show answer+
4 hours = 240 minutes. (500 × 20) ÷ 240 = 41.7, so 42 drops/min.
8. Percentage
Prescribed 100 mg. The solution is 2%. How many ml?
Show answer+
2% = 2 g per 100 ml = 20 mg/ml. 100 ÷ 20 = 5 ml.
9. Weight-based infusion
5 micrograms/kg/min for a 70 kg patient. The solution is 1 mg/ml. What rate in ml/hour?
Show answer+
5 × 70 = 350 micrograms/min. × 60 = 21,000 micrograms/hour. 1 mg/ml = 1000 micrograms/ml. 21,000 ÷ 1000 = 21 ml/hour.
10. Daily dose
20 mg/kg/day in 4 equal doses for an 18 kg child. Dose each time?
Show answer+
20 × 18 = 360 mg/day. 360 ÷ 4 = 90 mg per dose.
11. Percentage in fluid
How many grams of sodium chloride are in 500 ml of 0.9% solution?
Show answer+
0.9% = 0.9 g per 100 ml. 0.9 × 5 = 4.5 g.
12. Dilution
2 ml of a 50 mg/ml solution is made up to 10 ml. What is the new concentration?
Show answer+
C1 × V1 = C2 × V2. 50 × 2 = C2 × 10. C2 = 10 mg/ml.
Want more? Try the free drug calculations quiz or revise the formulas.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I find nursing numeracy practice questions?+
This page has 12 worked questions. The free drug calculations quiz on this site has 10 more.
Are these real exam questions?+
No. They are original practice questions covering the same skills.
Can I use a calculator for these?+
Use one for practice. Your own exam's calculator rules are set by your university.
How many practice questions should I do?+
As many as it takes to answer each topic correctly and consistently. Do a few every day.
Get more practice questions
Dos is a practice app for drug calculations. It has practice tests of ten questions, a built-in calculator next to each question, and statistics per topic.
