Nursing Acceleration Challenge Exam (NACE) PN-RN Practice Test

If a vial contains 10 mg of medication in 1.5 mL, how many mL should the nurse administer for a 15 mg order?

1. 1.5 mL

2. 2.0 mL

3. 2.25 mL

4. 3.0 mL

The correct answer is: 2.25 mL

To determine the correct volume of medication to administer for a 15 mg order based on the vial's concentration, first, we need to calculate how much of the medication is present in each mL. The vial contains 10 mg of medication in 1.5 mL. Thus, the concentration can be calculated as follows: - Concentration = Total amount of medication ÷ Total volume - Concentration = 10 mg ÷ 1.5 mL = 6.67 mg/mL Next, to find out how many mL correspond to the desired dose of 15 mg, the required volume can be computed using the formula: - Required volume = Desired dose ÷ Concentration - Required volume = 15 mg ÷ 6.67 mg/mL = 2.25 mL This calculation demonstrates that to achieve the order of 15 mg, the nurse should administer 2.25 mL of the medication. Consequently, the correct answer aligns with this calculation, confirming that option C is the appropriate choice for administration.