Dose calculation — core formulas
Purpose of this sheet: essential dose and rate calculations landmarks a nurse or licensed practical nurse in Quebec should keep in mind for clinical practice and for succeeding on the OIIQ or OIIAQ entry exam. Exam relevance: Dose and rate calculations are staples of the OIIQ exam: an error costs one question, sometimes several. — Clinical landmarks — Dose to give = (desired dose ÷ available dose) × volume of the available form Weight-based: dose = mg/kg × weight in kg, then check against the maximum adult dose Infusion rate (mL/h) = total volume ÷ total hours Drops per minute = (volume in mL × drop factor) ÷ time in minutes Always verify the unit before the number, and have a second nurse independently check high-alert medications. — Remember — Use this sheet in spaced repetition, pair it with a matching clinical scenario on NursEduc, and always compare values to the person's baseline before drawing conclusions. Keywords: dose calculation, rate calculation, infusion, units, conversion, OIIQ exam, OIIQ exam prep, OIIAQ exam prep, nurse in Quebec, NursEduc.