RN Nursing · Medication Administration and Dosage Calculations · Practice question
The physician orders testosterone 170 mg IM weekly for hormone replacement. The medication is supplied in 200 mg/ml. How many milliliters will the nurse administer?
Answer & explanation
Correct:
To calculate the volume of testosterone to administer, use the standard dosage formula: Volume = (Desired dose ÷ Dose on hand) × Volume per unit. The ordered dose is 170 mg, the supply concentration is 200 mg/mL, and each mL contains 200 mg. Applying the formula: 170 mg ÷ 200 mg/mL = 0.85 mL. This confirms the keyed answer of 0.85 mL. The calculation is straightforward because the supply is already expressed per milliliter, so no further unit conversion is needed. A common student error is inverting the fraction and calculating 200 ÷ 170, which yields an incorrect answer of approximately 1.18 mL. Another error is forgetting to use the correct units and treating the problem as a simple ratio without including the per-mL denominator. Since this is an intramuscular injection, the nurse should also verify that 0.85 mL is an appropriate volume for IM administration in the chosen site, select an appropriate needle length and gauge for testosterone in oil (typically a longer, larger-gauge needle due to the oil-based suspension), and rotate injection sites per facility protocol. Always double-check high-alert or hormone medications before administration.
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