Write the given quantity with its unit and the unit you want.
Pick the equivalent: 1000 between kg, g, mg and mcg or L and mL; 1 kg = 2.2 lb; 1 tsp = 5 mL, 1 tbsp = 15 mL, 1 fl oz = 30 mL, 1 cup = 240 mL.
Write it as a fraction so that the unwanted unit cancels; for a rate, use one fraction per unit that changes.
Check the direction: a smaller unit gives a bigger number.
Round only the final answer, to the precision the question names.
Dosage calculations
Dose from strength
volume = dose / strength
Weight-based dose
dose = mg/kg × body weight
Tablets
number = dose / tablet strength
Units
1 g = 1000 mg, 1 mg = 1000 mcg
Method
Convert the ordered dose and the stock strength to the same unit.
Use desired over have times quantity: (D/H) × Q.
For weight-based doses, multiply by the weight in kg first, then divide the daily dose by the number of doses.
Estimate first and check that the answer is reasonable.
IV infusion rates
Pump rate
mL/h = volume (mL)/time (h)
Drip rate
drops/min = volume (mL) × drop factor / time (min)
Infusion time
time (h) = volume (mL)/rate (mL/h)
Method
Pump rate in mL/h: volume divided by time in hours.
Drip rate in drops/min: volume × drop factor divided by time in minutes.
For time remaining: volume left divided by the rate.
Round as the question or the equipment requires.
IV fluids & fluid balance
Holliday–Segar per hour
4 mL/kg (first 10 kg) + 2 mL/kg (next 10 kg) + 1 mL/kg (each kg above 20)
Holliday–Segar per day
100 / 50 / 20 mL/kg for the same bands
Fluid balance
intake − output
Ice chips
count as half their volume
Urine output
mL/kg/h = mL / (kg × h)
Infusion time
time (h) = volume left (mL) / rate (mL/h)
Volume infused
mL = rate × time
Pediatric & critical-care dosing
Daily dose
mg/day = mg/kg/day × weight (kg)
Doses per day
number = 24 h / dosing interval (h)
Pounds to kilograms
kg = lb / 2.2
Infusion concentration
units/mL = units in bag / bag volume
Pump rate
mL/h = dose per hour / concentration
Titrated drip
mL/h = mcg/kg/min × kg × 60 / (mcg/mL)
Dose from pump rate
mcg/kg/min = mL/h × (mcg/mL) / (60 × kg)
Units
1 mg = 1000 mcg
Pharmacy calculations
Percentage strength
% w/v = g per 100 mL
Amount in a solution
g = % × mL / 100
Ratio strength
1:X = 1 g in X mL; % = 100 / X
Reconstitution
final volume = diluent + powder volume
Concentration
mg/mL = drug in vial / final volume
Alligation
parts of H = T − L, parts of L = H − T
Water or base
0%
2Practice problems
1.Nursing math & unit conversionsMedium
Practice exercise (made-up values, not clinical guidance). A dose is charted at 17:10 (24-hour clock). Which entry is the same time on the 12-hour clock? Click it.
17:10
14:10 PM
27:10 PM
35:10 AM
45:10 PM
2.Nursing math & unit conversionsHard
Practice exercise (made-up values, not clinical guidance). A prescription reads 2 tsp of an oral suspension four times a day for 10 days. The suspension comes in 150 mL bottles. Using 1 tsp = 5 mL, how many whole bottles N must be supplied so the course is complete?
2 tspfour times a day10 days150 mL1 tsp = 5 mL
N =
3.Dosage calculationsMedium
A child weighing 30 kg is prescribed 2 mg/kg of a drug. The stock solution contains 50 mg/mL. Draw up the dose: what volume V do you give?
30 kg2 mg/kg50 mg/mL
V = mL
4.Dosage calculationsHard
A child weighing 8 kg is prescribed 10 mg/kg per dose of an oral suspension that contains 40 mg in 1 mL. What volume V do you give?
8 kg10 mg/kg40 mg/1 mL
V = mL
5.IV infusion ratesMedium
Infuse 1000 mL over 3 hours with a giving set of 15 gtt/mL. Find the drip rate R in drops per minute. Round to the nearest whole number.
1000 mL3 h15 gtt/mL
R = gtt/min
6.IV infusion ratesHard
A drip runs at 32 gtt/min through a set of 20 gtt/mL. There are 600 mL left in the bag. How many hours t until it is empty? Round to one decimal place.
32 gtt/min20 gtt/mL600 mL
t = h
7.IV fluids & fluid balanceMedium
Practice exercise (made-up values, not clinical guidance). The record shows a patient's intake and output for one 8-hour shift. The IV infusion ran at the rate shown for the whole shift. Find the total intake I in mL.
soup: 250 mLjelly: 120 mLtea: 240 mLIV infusion: 50 mL/h × 8 hIV antibiotic: 2 × 50 mL
I = mL
8.IV fluids & fluid balanceHard
Practice exercise (made-up values, not clinical guidance). A 500 mL bag was started at 11:15 and runs by pump at 50 mL/h. How many mL V are left in the bag at 18:45?
500 mL50 mL/h11:15 → 18:45
V = mL
9.Pediatric & critical-care dosingMedium
Practice exercise (made-up values, not clinical guidance). A bag contains 20 000 units of heparin in 500 mL. The order is 15 units/kg/h for a patient who weighs 103 kg. At what rate R do you set the pump, in mL/h? Round to one decimal place.
20 000 units/500 mL15 units/kg/h103 kg
R = mL/h
10.Pediatric & critical-care dosingHard
Practice exercise (made-up values, not clinical guidance). A bag contains dopamine 800 mg in 500 mL. The order is 6 mcg/kg/min for a patient who weighs 106 kg. At what rate R do you set the pump, in mL/h? Round to one decimal place.
800 mg/500 mL6 mcg/kg/min106 kg
R = mL/h
11.Pharmacy calculationsMedium
A solution has a ratio strength of 1:10 000. You need 0.28 mg. Draw up the volume in the 10 mL syringe: what volume V is that?
1:10 0000.28 mg
V = mL
12.Pharmacy calculationsHard
A vial holds 2000 mg of powder. You add 4.6 mL of diluent, and the powder adds 0.4 mL of volume. The prescription is 520 mg. Draw up the dose: what volume V do you give?
2000 mg4.6 mL + 0.4 mL520 mg
V = mL
3Solutions
1.Nursing math & unit conversions
Answer: 5:10 PM
24-hour clock: from 1 PM onwards add 12 to the hour (3:45 PM = 15:45). Midnight to 12:59 AM is 00:00–00:59, and 12:00–12:59 PM stays 12:00–12:59. Going back, subtract 12 from hours 13–23 and add PM; hours 00 become 12 AM. Count time across midnight in two parts: up to 24:00 (00:00), then from 00:00 on.
Convert the hour
17 − 12 = 5 → PM
Answer
5:10 PM
Answer
5:10 PM
2.Nursing math & unit conversions
Answer: N = 3
Dimensional analysis: write the given quantity, then multiply by conversion factors written as fractions (for example 60 min/1 h or 1 mg/1000 mcg) so that each unwanted unit appears once on top and once underneath and cancels. When only the wanted unit is left, calculate. Use the equivalents the question gives and round only the final answer.
Total volume
10 mL × 4 × 10 = 400 mL
Bottles
400/150 = 2.667 → N = 3
Answer
N = 3
3.Dosage calculations
Answer: V = 1.2 mL
Drawing up a dose: volume = (prescribed dose/stock strength) × stock volume. Convert to the same units first, then check that the volume fits the syringe and lands on one of its graduations.
Dose from body weight
D = 2·30 = 60 mg
Volume
V = 60/50 = 1.2 mL
On the syringe
On this 10 mL syringe every small line is 0.2 mL.
Answer
V = 1.2 mL
4.Dosage calculations
Answer: V = 2 mL
Dose calculation: the amount to give equals what is prescribed divided by what you have, times the quantity it comes in: amount = (desired dose/stock strength) × stock volume. Always keep the units the same (convert g to mg, mg to mcg first) and check that the answer is sensible.
Dose from weight
10·8 = 80 mg
Volume
V = (80/40)·1 = 2 mL
Answer
V = 2 mL
5.IV infusion rates
Answer: R = 83 gtt/min
Infusion rates: a pump is set in mL/h = volume/time in hours. A gravity drip is counted in drops per minute: gtt/min = volume (mL) × drop factor (gtt/mL)/time (min). The drop factor is printed on the tubing package: macrodrip sets deliver 10, 15 or 20 gtt/mL (blood sets often 10 gtt/mL in the US, 15 in the UK) and microdrip sets 60 gtt/mL. Always use the drop factor the question or package gives.
Time in minutes
3·60 = 180 min
Drip rate
R = 1000·15/180 = 83.33 ≈ 83 gtt/min
Answer
R = 83 gtt/min
At the bedside you round to the nearest whole drop: 83 gtt/min.
6.IV infusion rates
Answer: t = 6.3 h
Infusion rates: a pump is set in mL/h = volume/time in hours. A gravity drip is counted in drops per minute: gtt/min = volume (mL) × drop factor (gtt/mL)/time (min). The drop factor is printed on the tubing package: macrodrip sets deliver 10, 15 or 20 gtt/mL (blood sets often 10 gtt/mL in the US, 15 in the UK) and microdrip sets 60 gtt/mL. Always use the drop factor the question or package gives.
Rate in mL/h
32·60/20 = 96 mL/h
Time left
t = 600/96 = 6.25 ≈ 6.3 h
Answer
t = 6.3 h
7.IV fluids & fluid balance
Answer: I = 1110 mL
Intake and output: intake counts everything that goes in (oral fluids, IV infusions, IV medications and flushes, tube feeds); ice chips count as half their volume. Output counts urine, drains, vomit and other losses. Balance = total intake − total output; a negative balance is a net loss. The numbers are for practice only; at the bedside always follow local protocols and have high-risk doses double-checked.
Add the intake
oral: 250 + 120 + 240 = 610 mL
IV infusion: 50·8 = 400 mL
IV antibiotic: 2·50 = 100 mL
I = 1110 mL
Answer
I = 1110 mL
8.IV fluids & fluid balance
Answer: V = 125 mL
Infusion time: time (h) = volume to infuse (mL)/rate (mL/h); use the volume still left in the bag, not the bag size. Volume infused = rate × time. Convert decimal hours to hours and minutes with the fraction × 60 (0.5 h = 30 min, not 50 min). The numbers are for practice only; at the bedside always follow local protocols and have high-risk doses double-checked.
Elapsed time
11:15 → 18:45 = 7.5 h
Volume infused
50·7.5 = 375 mL
Volume left
V = 500 − 375 = 125 mL
Answer
V = 125 mL
9.Pediatric & critical-care dosing
Answer: R = 38.6 mL/h
Heparin and insulin infusions: concentration = units in the bag/bag volume (units/mL). Pump rate (mL/h) = units per hour/concentration, and units per hour = mL/h × concentration. For a weight-based order, units/h = units/kg/h × weight first. A bolus volume = units needed/vial strength. The numbers are for practice only; at the bedside always follow local protocols and have high-risk doses double-checked.
Units per hour
15·103 = 1 545 units/h
Concentration
20 000/500 = 40 units/mL
Pump rate
R = 1545/40 = 38.63 ≈ 38.6 mL/h
Answer
R = 38.6 mL/h
10.Pediatric & critical-care dosing
Answer: R = 23.9 mL/h
Titrated drips: first find the concentration in mcg/mL (mg × 1000/mL). For a weight-based order, mcg/min = mcg/kg/min × weight. Then mL/h = mcg/min × 60/concentration. Working backwards, mcg/kg/min = mL/h × concentration/(60 × weight). The numbers are for practice only; at the bedside always follow local protocols and have high-risk doses double-checked.
Concentration
800 mg = 800 000 mcg
800 000/500 = 1600 mcg/mL
Dose per minute and per hour
6·106 = 636 mcg/min
636·60 = 38160 mcg/h
Pump rate
R = 38160/1600 = 23.85 ≈ 23.9 mL/h
Answer
R = 23.9 mL/h
11.Pharmacy calculations
Answer: V = 2.8 mL
Strength to volume: turn the strength into mg per mL first. A w/v percentage is grams per 100 mL, so x% = 10x mg/mL. A ratio strength 1:n is 1 g in n mL. After reconstitution the concentration is the powder's dose over the final volume (diluent + powder volume). Then volume = dose/concentration.
Strength in mg/mL
1000 mg/10 000 mL = 0.1 mg/mL
Volume
V = 0.28/0.1 = 2.8 mL
Answer
V = 2.8 mL
12.Pharmacy calculations
Answer: V = 1.3 mL
Strength to volume: turn the strength into mg per mL first. A w/v percentage is grams per 100 mL, so x% = 10x mg/mL. A ratio strength 1:n is 1 g in n mL. After reconstitution the concentration is the powder's dose over the final volume (diluent + powder volume). Then volume = dose/concentration.