ACADEMIC SKILLS

Division of Student Success

Nursing: Medication Calculations

Common calculations required in nursing include finding volumes needed for oral or
injected doses and working out IV infusion flow and drip rates. All these calculations
require the application of various maths skills looked at in previous worksheets.
This worksheet will teach you to calculate volume required for an injected dose and oral
dose, as well as working with paediatric doses.

When medication is injected

The formula to calculate the volume required for an injection is:
𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 𝑟𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑐𝑘
𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑑 = 𝑥
𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑐𝑘 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 1

The volumes are measured in millilitres (mL).

The strength required and stock strength are measured in grams (g), milligrams (mg) or micrograms (mcg).
You must make sure that the unit of measurement for the stock strength and strength required match. If
they do not match, then convert them both to the smaller of the two units .

Examples:
a) Calculate the volume to be drawn up if a patient requires 1mg of bumetanide, and stock ampoule contains
2mg/4mL.
Strength required is 1mg.
The stock strength is 2mg in 4mL.
The units match so the formula becomes:
𝑟𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑐𝑘 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 1 4 4
𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 = × = × 𝑚𝐿 = 𝑚𝐿 = 2 𝑚𝐿
𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑐𝑘 1 2 1 2
Answer: the volume to be drawn up in 2mL.
Note: After you have calculated your answer always look again at the strength required and stock strength
and consider if your required volume looks reasonable.

b) An infant requires 2000 units of Calciparine. If stock ampoules contain 20000 units in 1mL, how much
should you draw up?
Strength required is 2 000 units.
Stock strength is 20 000 units in 1 mL
So the formula becomes:
0 .1
𝑟𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑐𝑘 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 2000 1 2000 2 1
𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 = × = × 𝑚𝐿 = 𝑚𝐿 = 𝑚𝐿 = 𝑚𝐿 = 10 1 . 0 = 0.1𝑚𝐿
𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑐𝑘 1 20000 1 20000 20 10

Answer: the volume required is 0.1mL.

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c) An adult patient was ordered 85mg of cortisone. Each stock ampoule was 5mL and contained 100mg of
cortisone. What volume is required?
Strength required is 85mg.
Stock strength is 100mg in 5mL.
So the formula becomes:

04. 2 5
𝑟𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑐𝑘 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 85 5 425 85
𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 = × = × 𝑚𝐿 = 𝑚𝐿 = 𝑚𝐿 = 20 8 5 . 50 100 = 4.25𝑚𝐿
𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑐𝑘 1 100 1 100 20
Answer: the volume required is 4.25mL.
d) A patient is ordered 70mg of pethidine. Find the volume required if the stock solution contains 10g of
pethidine per 200mL.
Strength required is 70mg.
Stock strength is 10g in 200mL.
First change the g to mg to make the units the same:
10g x 1 000 = 10 000mg
So stock strength is 10 000mg in 200mL

01. 4
𝑟𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑐𝑘 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 70 200 14000 14
𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 = × = × 𝑚𝐿 = 𝑚𝐿 = 𝑚𝐿 = 10 1 4 . 40 = 1.4𝑚𝐿
𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑐𝑘 1 10000 1 10000 10
Answer: the volume required is 1.4mL of stock solution.

Mixtures
When administering a dose of medication in a suspension form, the formula is the same as for injections:

𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 𝑟𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑐𝑘

𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑑 = ×
𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑐𝑘 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 1

Examples:
a) A patient who has a sore head from an accidental fall is prescribed 1 000mg of a mild painkiller to be
taken orally. The stock contains 100mg in 5mL. How much medication should be given to the patient?
Strength required is 1 000mg
Stock strength is 100mg in 5mL.
𝑟𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑐𝑘 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 1000 5 5000 50
𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 = × = × 𝑚𝐿 = = 𝑚𝐿 = 50𝑚𝐿
𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑐𝑘 1 100 1 100𝑚𝐿 1
Answer: 50mL of painkiller should be given to the patient.
b) Bill is prescribed 800mg of erythromycin, and stock on hand contains 500mg/10mL in suspension. Find
the amount of suspension required.
Strength required is 800mg.
Stock strength is 500mg in 10mL.

𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑐𝑘 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑐𝑘 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 800 10 8000 80

𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 = × = × 𝑚𝐿 = 𝑚𝐿 = 𝑚𝐿
𝑟𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑑 1 500 1 500 5
Answer: Bill would receive 16mL of erythromycin.

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Tablets
For tablets you may use a similar formula as for oral and injected doses to calculate the number of tablets
required, however as the stock volume will always be 1 tablet the formula is modified to:
𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 𝑟𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑑
𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 =
𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑐𝑘 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ

Note: The rules for tablets are that you always try to use a whole tablet, and never less than half a tablet.
Always try to give as few tablets as possible.

Examples:
a) 750mg of ciprofloxacin is prescribed. On hand are 500mg tablets. How many tablets should be given?
Strength required is 750mg.
Stock strength is 500mg.
𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 𝑟𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑑 750 75 3
𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 = = 𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑠 = = = 1.5 𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑠
𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑐𝑘 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 500 50 2

Answer: 1 tablet and a half tablet are required.

b) How many 20mg tablets of codeine are required for a dose of 0.05g?
Strength required is 0.05g.
Stock strength is 20mg.
First step is to convert 0.05g to mg:
0.05g x 1 000 = 0.050 x 1 000 = 50mg
Strength required is 50mg.
𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 𝑟𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑑 50 5
𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 = = 𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑠 = = 2.5 𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑠
𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑐𝑘 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 20 2
Answer: 2 tablets and a half tablet are required.

Paediatric dose
When medicating infants or children the dose required may be expressed in terms of body weight. Further
calculations can therefore by necessary.

Examples:
a) A child weighing 16kg is ordered 40mg/kg/day, 4 doses a day, of erythromycin. Find the strength
required for a single dose.
Daily dose = 40mg for each kg = 40 x 16 = 640 mg/day

1 60
Single dose = 640mg ÷ 4 doses = 4 6 2 4 0 = 160mg

Answer: a single dose is 160mg.

b) A five year old girl is ordered paracetamol stat. The pharmacy guidelines recommend
15mg/kg. The child weighs 18kg. Stock strength is 125mg/5mL. How many mL will the child receive?
Strength required = 15mg for each kg = 15 x 18 = 270mg

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Stock strength = 125mg in 5mL.

10.8
𝑟𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑐𝑘 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 270 5 1350 270 54
𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 =
𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑐𝑘
×
1
= × 𝑚𝐿 =
125 1 125
𝑚𝐿 =
25
𝑚𝐿 =
5
= 5 54.0 = 10.8𝑚𝐿

Answer: the child requires a dose of 10.8mL.

Exercises
1. A patient is ordered an injection of 80 mg of pethidine. Each stock ampoule contains 100 mg per 1 mL.
How much will you draw up for the injection?

2. A child requires 50 milligrams of Phenobarbitone. If stock ampoules contain 200 milligrams in

2 mL, How much will you draw up?

3. What volume is required for the injection if a patient is ordered 500 mg of capreomycin sulphate, and each
stock ampoules contains 300 mg/mL?

4. A patient needs 5000 mg of medication. Stock solution contains 1 g per 1 mL. What volume is required?

5. A teenager is prescribed 1000 mg of chloramphenicol. Stock on hand contains 250 mg/10 mL

in suspension. Calculate the volume required.

6. A patient is prescribed 3g of sulphadiazine, and the stock contains 600 mg/5 mL. How much
sulphadiazine should be given to the patient?

7. How many 300 mg tablets should be administered for a prescribed dose of 450 mg?

8. How many 25 mg tablets are required for a prescribed dose of 0.05 g?

9. Calculate the size of a single dose if a child weighing 20 kg is ordered flucloxacillin 100 mg/kg/day, 4
doses per day.

10. A doctor orders penicillin V potassium oral suspension 56 mg/kg/day in four doses per day for a child
who weighs 25 kg. The suspension available is 125 mg/5mL. What volume should be administered at each
dose?

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Solutions
1. 0.8 mL
2. 0.5 mL
3. 1.7 mL
4. 5 mL
5. 40 mL
6. 25 mL
7. 1.5 tabs
8. 2 tabs
9. Strength required per day = 20 kg x 100 mg each kg = 2000 mg
Strength required per dose = 2000 mg ÷ 4 = 500 mg
10. Strength required per day = 25 kg x 56 mg each kg = 1400 mg
Strength required each dose = 1400 mg ÷ 4 = 350 mg
𝑟𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑐𝑘 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 350 5 1750 350 14
𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 = = = × 𝑚𝐿 = 𝑚𝐿 = 𝑚𝐿 = 𝑚𝐿 = 14𝑚𝐿
𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑐𝑘 1 125 1 125 25 1

For more information

Visit https://www.csu.edu.au/current-students/learning-resources/build-your-skills/academic-skills-
help/numeracy for more information.

References
The following resource will provide you with further useful information on this topic:

Gatford, J. D., & Phillips, N. (2011). Nursing calculations (8th ed.). Churchill.

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