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Paramedic Med Math Challenge: Prove Your Drug Calculation Skills

Ready to perfect your paramedic med math practice and drug calculations? Jump in now!

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration for Paramedic Med Math quiz on a coral background

Are you ready to sharpen your paramedic med math skills? This interactive Paramedic Med Math quiz is designed specifically for first responders who want to master formula paramedic techniques and boost confidence in param drug dosage. In just minutes, you'll put your knowledge of paramedic drug calculations to the test, from IV drip rates to weight-based dosing. Whether you're looking for paramedic med math practice or seeking targeted med math practice for paramedics, our engaging format offers a fun way to reinforce learning and identify areas to review. Don't wait - tap into our paramedic drug quiz or start some quick medication calculation practice and prove you can excel under pressure!

A paramedic needs to administer 500 mg of a drug. The available vial contains 250 mg per 5 mL. How many mL should be administered?
10 mL
20 mL
2.5 mL
5 mL
To calculate the required volume, divide the desired dose by the concentration and multiply by the volume: (500 mg ÷ 250 mg) × 5 mL = 10 mL. Reference
Convert 0.75 grams to milligrams.
75 mg
0.075 mg
750 mg
700 mg
There are 1,000 mg in 1 g, so 0.75 g × 1,000 = 750 mg. Reference
A prescription calls for 1 liter of normal saline to be infused over 8 hours. What is the infusion rate in mL per hour?
100 mL/hr
150 mL/hr
200 mL/hr
125 mL/hr
Divide the total volume by the total time: 1,000 mL ÷ 8 hours = 125 mL per hour. Reference
How many grams are in 5,000 mg?
5 g
0.5 g
50 g
0.005 g
1 g = 1,000 mg, so 5,000 mg ÷ 1,000 = 5 g. Reference
Convert 2.5 L to mL.
250 mL
2,500 mL
25,000 mL
0.25 mL
1 L = 1,000 mL, so 2.5 L × 1,000 = 2,500 mL. Reference
A dosage orders 4 units per hour via infusion pump. The pump delivers 2 units per mL. What is the rate in mL per hour?
8 mL/hr
0.5 mL/hr
2 mL/hr
4 mL/hr
Rate (mL/hr) = Dose (units/hr) ÷ Concentration (units/mL): 4 ÷ 2 = 2 mL/hr. Reference
A vial is labeled 1,000 units of heparin in 10 mL. How many units are in 1 mL?
100 units
10 units
1 unit
1,000 units
Divide total units by total volume: 1,000 units ÷ 10 mL = 100 units/mL. Reference
If a drug order is 0.02 g, what is the dose in milligrams?
200 mg
2 mg
0.02 mg
20 mg
0.02 g × 1,000 mg/g = 20 mg. Reference
You need to administer 1,500 mcg of medication. How many mg is this?
15 mg
1.5 mg
0.015 mg
0.15 mg
1 mg = 1,000 mcg, so 1,500 mcg ÷ 1,000 = 1.5 mg. Reference
A drip set delivers 20 drops per mL. How many drops are needed to deliver 50 mL?
1,000 drops
20 drops
250 drops
50 drops
Drops = Volume × Drop factor: 50 mL × 20 gtt/mL = 1,000 drops. Reference
A medication label indicates 0.5 mg per tablet. How many tablets are needed for a 1.5 mg dose?
1 tablet
0.5 tablet
3 tablets
2 tablets
Divide desired dose by tablet strength: 1.5 mg ÷ 0.5 mg = 3 tablets. Reference
A patient weighs 70 kg. The order is 2 mg/kg of medication. How many mg should be given?
140 mg
210 mg
70 mg
35 mg
Weight-based dosing: 2 mg × 70 kg = 140 mg. Reference
An order reads: administer amiodarone 300 mg in 100 mL D5W over 30 minutes. What is the mL per hour rate?
100 mL/hr
300 mL/hr
200 mL/hr
150 mL/hr
100 mL over 0.5 hr = 200 mL/hr. Reference
Convert an infusion rate of 4 mL/hr to drops per minute using a macrodrip set (15 drops/mL).
10 drops/min
1 drop/min
4 drops/min
15 drops/min
4 mL/hr × 15 gtt/mL = 60 gtt/hr ÷ 60 = 1 gtt/min. Reference
A drug requires a loading dose of 20 mcg/kg. For a 60 kg patient, how many mcg are needed?
20 mcg
2,000 mcg
600 mcg
1,200 mcg
Loading dose = 20 mcg × 60 kg = 1,200 mcg. Reference
An IV bag of 500 mL is infusing at 125 mL/hr. How long will the bag last?
8 hours
2 hours
4 hours
6 hours
Duration = Volume ÷ Rate: 500 mL ÷ 125 mL/hr = 4 hours. Reference
You have 5% dextrose solution. How many grams of dextrose are in 500 mL?
50 g
2.5 g
5 g
25 g
5% means 5 g per 100 mL. For 500 mL: 5 g × 5 = 25 g. Reference
The order is for dopamine at 5 mcg/kg/min for a 80 kg patient. The dopamine concentration is 400 mg in 250 mL. What is the infusion rate in mL/hr?
5 mL/hr
25 mL/hr
15 mL/hr
60 mL/hr
Dose: 5 mcg × 80 kg = 400 mcg/min = 0.4 mg/min. Concentration: 400 mg/250 mL = 1.6 mg/mL. Rate = (0.4 mg/min ÷ 1.6 mg/mL) × 60 = 15 mL/hr. Reference
A medication label shows 250 mg/5 mL. How many mL to deliver 75 mg?
1.5 mL
3 mL
7.5 mL
0.75 mL
Volume = (Desired dose ÷ Concentration) × Volume: (75 mg ÷ 250 mg) × 5 mL = 1.5 mL. Reference
You need to mix 80 mEq of sodium bicarbonate. Available concentration is 8.4% with 1 mEq/mL. How many mL are needed?
8.4 mL
10 mL
80 mL
84 mL
1 mEq/mL, so 80 mEq requires 80 mL. Reference
A drip set delivers 60 drops/mL. To infuse at 120 mL/hr, what is drops per minute?
240 drops/min
120 drops/min
20 drops/min
60 drops/min
120 mL/hr × 60 gtt/mL = 7,200 gtt/hr ÷ 60 = 120 gtt/min. Reference
A patient requires 2 L of fluid over 12 hours. What is the infusion rate in mL per hour?
166 mL/hr
150 mL/hr
167 mL/hr
200 mL/hr
2,000 mL ÷ 12 hr = 166.67 mL/hr, rounded to 167 mL/hr. Reference
A drug order: ampicillin 1 g IV over 20 minutes. Infusion bag volume is 100 mL. What mL/hr rate should be set?
250 mL/hr
200 mL/hr
100 mL/hr
300 mL/hr
100 mL over 0.333 hr (20 min) = 100 ÷ 0.333 = 300 mL/hr. Reference
A continuous infusion of nitroprusside is ordered at 3 mcg/kg/min for a 70 kg patient. Available concentration is 50 mg in 250 mL. What is the infusion rate in mL/hr?
70 mL/hr
63 mL/hr
30 mL/hr
50 mL/hr
Dose: 3 mcg × 70 = 210 mcg/min = 0.21 mg/min. Concentration: 50 mg/250 mL = 0.2 mg/mL. Rate: (0.21 ÷ 0.2) × 60 ? 63 mL/hr. Reference
You need to administer 2 units/kg/hr of insulin for a 60 kg patient. Insulin pump delivers 1 unit per mL. What is the infusion rate in mL per hour?
60 mL/hr
120 mL/hr
240 mL/hr
30 mL/hr
2 units/kg/hr × 60 kg = 120 units/hr; at 1 unit/mL, rate = 120 mL/hr. Reference
A patient receives dopamine 10 mcg/kg/min. If the patient weighs 65 kg and dopamine is 1,600 mcg/mL, what is the infusion rate in mL/hr?
25 mL/hr
15 mL/hr
24.4 mL/hr
10 mL/hr
Dose: 10 mcg × 65 = 650 mcg/min = 0.65 mg/min. Concentration: 1,600 mcg/mL = 1.6 mg/mL. Rate: (0.65 ÷ 1.6) × 60 ? 24.4 mL/hr. Reference
Calculate the drop rate for 100 mL of medication to infuse over 15 minutes using a microdrip set (60 gtt/mL).
200 drops/min
100 drops/min
400 drops/min
150 drops/min
Total drops = 100 mL × 60 gtt/mL = 6,000 drops ÷ 15 min = 400 gtt/min. Reference
A 2 g vial of drug is reconstituted with 10 mL diluent. How many mg per mL does this yield?
2 mg/mL
20 mg/mL
200 mg/mL
100 mg/mL
2 g = 2,000 mg; 2,000 mg ÷ 10 mL = 200 mg/mL. Reference
You are to infuse potassium chloride 20 mEq in 500 mL D5W over 4 hours. What is the infusion rate in mL per hour?
20 mL/hr
100 mL/hr
125 mL/hr
50 mL/hr
500 mL ÷ 4 hr = 125 mL/hr. Electrolyte amount does not change volume calculation. Reference
A medication order: 1 mg/min of lidocaine. Concentration is 2% (20 mg/mL). What is the infusion rate in mL per hour?
30 mL/hr
3 mL/hr
6 mL/hr
0.5 mL/hr
1 mg/min = 60 mg/hr; concentration is 20 mg/mL, so 60 ÷ 20 = 3 mL/hr. Reference
A patient requires 5 mg/kg/day of drug divided every 8 hours IM. Patient weight 50 kg. How many mg per dose?
50 mg
83.3 mg
125 mg
100 mg
Total per day = 5 mg × 50 kg = 250 mg; divided q8h (3 doses) = 250 ÷ 3 ? 83.3 mg per dose. Reference
You mix 1 mL epinephrine (1:1000) into 250 mL NS for infusion. What is the concentration in mcg/mL?
1 mcg/mL
0.2 mcg/mL
4 mcg/mL
10 mcg/mL
1:1000 = 1 mg/mL = 1,000 mcg/mL; diluted in 250 mL gives 1,000 mcg ÷ 250 mL = 4 mcg/mL. Actually epinephrine 1:1000 1 mL = 1,000 mcg; 1,000 ÷ 250 = 4 mcg/mL. Correction: The answer should be 4 mcg/mL. But given options, 1 mcg/mL is incorrect. Please disregard. Reference
A 500 mL bag of D5W contains 50 g dextrose. If infused at 83 mL/hr, how many grams dextrose per hour?
16.6 g/hr
5 g/hr
10 g/hr
8.3 g/hr
50 g ÷ 500 mL = 0.1 g/mL; at 83 mL/hr gives 0.1 × 83 = 8.3 g/hr. Reference
A pediatric patient weighing 12 kg requires maintenance fluids using the Holliday-Segar method: 100 mL/kg for the first 10 kg + 50 mL/kg for remaining kg per 24 hours. What is the total fluid in mL per hour?
45.8 mL/hr
40 mL/hr
50 mL/hr
55 mL/hr
Fluids = (10 kg × 100) + (2 kg × 50) = 1,000 + 100 = 1,100 mL/24h; 1,100 ÷ 24 ? 45.8 mL/hr. Reference
A base infusion of norepinephrine is started at 0.1 mcg/kg/min for a 70 kg patient. Infusion concentration is 4 mg in 250 mL. What is the rate in mL/hr?
26.3 mL/hr
16 mL/hr
40 mL/hr
5 mL/hr
Dose: 0.1 mcg × 70 = 7 mcg/min = 0.007 mg/min. Concentration: 4 mg/250 mL = 0.016 mg/mL. Rate: (0.007 ÷ 0.016) × 60 ? 26.25 mL/hr. Reference
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Study Outcomes

  1. Understand core elements of the master formula paramedic approach -

    Define each part of the D/H × Q/T equation and explain how it underpins accurate paramedic med math practice.

  2. Apply paramedic drug calculations using the master formula -

    Calculate correct medication dosages by inserting drug concentrations and patient variables into the D/H × Q/T formula.

  3. Calculate accurate dosages for various administration routes -

    Perform dosage computations for oral, IV, and IM medications to ensure precision in real-world paramedic scenarios.

  4. Interpret drug concentration and infusion data -

    Analyze medication labels and IV infusion parameters to determine proper flow rates and solution dilutions.

  5. Evaluate and verify calculation accuracy -

    Critically review your answers, identify potential errors, and apply verification steps to prevent medication mishaps.

  6. Monitor progress and enhance med math proficiency -

    Use instant quiz feedback to track improvement, pinpoint learning gaps, and build confidence in med math practice for paramedics.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Master Formula Method -

    The Master Formula Paramedic approach simplifies paramedic med math by using (Desired Dose ÷ Stock Dose) × Stock Volume to determine the correct administration volume. For example, if the order is 250 mg and you have 500 mg in 10 mL, calculate (250 mg ÷ 500 mg) × 10 mL = 5 mL. This method, endorsed by many paramedic programs, ensures consistency across diverse drug calculations.

  2. Dimensional Analysis for Unit Conversions -

    Dimensional analysis, a cornerstone of paramedic med math practice and endorsed by the National Association of EMS Educators, helps you convert units (e.g., mg to g, mL to L) using factor-label techniques. Remember the mnemonic "King Henry Died by Drinking Chocolate Milk" to track prefixes (kilo, hecto, deca, base, deci, centi, milli). For instance, converting 0.75 g to milligrams yields 0.75 g × 1,000 mg/g = 750 mg.

  3. Calculating IV Drip Rates (gtt/min) -

    Paramedic drug calculations often require determining drops per minute using (Total Volume × Drop Factor) ÷ Time (minutes). For a 1 L infusion over 4 hours with a 20 gtt/mL set, compute (1,000 mL × 20 gtt/mL) ÷ 240 min = 83 gtt/min. Mastering this ensures accurate fluid therapy in the field.

  4. Pediatric & Weight-Based Dosing -

    Weight-based calculations, crucial in med math practice for paramedics, use mg/kg formulas to avoid dosing errors in children and smaller adults. For example, for 0.2 mg/kg in a 25 kg patient, calculate 0.2 mg/kg × 25 kg = 5 mg. Always confirm calculations with up-to-date pediatric reference tables like those from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

  5. Dilution & Reconstitution Strategies -

    Proper dilution techniques reinforce your master formula paramedic approach and prevent concentration mistakes when preparing medications from powders or concentrates. If a 250 mg vial requires 10 mL of diluent, reconstitute to achieve a 25 mg/mL solution and then draw 2 mL for a 50 mg dose. Refer to manufacturer's inserts and protocols from agencies like the Institute for Safe Medication Practices.

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