Calculate, review one worked example, then practice the same skill.
Medication Dosage
Calculate volume or tablet count based on prescribed dose.
Calculation practice
Learn medication dosage
Find the tablet count or liquid volume from the ordered dose and the supply label.
Formula
Keep the units in the setup. Cancel them before you accept the answer.
Worked example
The order is 500 mg. The liquid contains 250 mg in 5 mL. Find the volume to administer.
- 1The ordered dose and the dose on hand are both in mg.
- 2(500 mg × 5 mL) ÷ 250 mg = 10 mL
- 3The mg units cancel. The remaining unit is mL.
Answer: 10 mL
Checks before use
- Convert the order and the dose on hand to the same unit before you divide.
- Use the quantity that is paired with the dose on the supply label.
- Use a leading zero for a dose less than 1. Do not use a trailing zero.
Practice this skill
Create a printable medication dosage worksheet with worked solutions.
Add this calculator to a course site
Copy the iframe code into a learning system, school page, or nursing blog. The calculator opens without the full site navigation.
<iframe src="https://nursingworksheets.com/embed/calculators/dosage" title="Medication dosage calculator" width="100%" height="760" loading="lazy" style="border:1px solid #b8c6ce;background:#fff" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin"></iframe>References
- Dose Calculation: Desired Over Have Formula Method — StatPearls, NCBI Bookshelf
- Error-Prone Abbreviations, Symbols, and Dose Designations — Institute for Safe Medication Practices
Site editor: Daniel Tran, PharmD. Educational use only. Verify the order, current drug reference, prepared product, and facility policy before clinical use.
For educational use only. Always verify with clinical judgment and facility protocols.