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Magnesium Sulfate Dosage Calculations Practice Problems

These questions will test your ability to solve magnesium sulfate dosage calculations.

Magnesium sulfate is used in maternity nursing to treat patients experiencing severe preeclampsia, eclampsia, or preterm labor. Nurses should be aware of the signs of magnesium toxicity and how to administer both a loading dose and a maintenance infusion.

Don’t forget to check out more reviews in our maternity nursing series.

Magnesium Sulfate Dosage Calculations Practice Problems (Maternity Nursing)

1. A 34-week pregnant patient with eclampsia is ordered a 4g IV magnesium sulfate loading dose over 20 minutes. You are supplied with a 4g/100mL IV bag. What is the infusion rate (mL/hr)?(Required)
2. A patient is 35 weeks pregnant and has developed eclampsia. The healthcare provider orders IV magnesium sulfate. The provider wants the patient to have a loading dose of 2 g over 20 minutes. You're supplied with a 4g/100 mL bag. Then a maintenance infusion of 2 g/ hr, and you're supplied with a 20g/500 mL bag. Determine the flow rates of the loading dose and maintenance dose (mL/hr).(Required)
3. A 30-week pregnant patient with preeclampsia is ordered a 6g IV magnesium sulfate loading dose over 30 minutes. You are supplied with a 20g/500mL IV bag. What is the infusion rate (mL/hr)?(Required)
4. A 28-week pregnant patient with eclampsia is ordered a 5g IV magnesium sulfate loading dose over 30 minutes. You are supplied with a 20g/500mL IV bag. What is the infusion rate (mL/hr)?(Required)
5. A patient is 31 weeks pregnant and has developed eclampsia. The healthcare provider orders IV magnesium sulfate. The provider wants the patient to have a loading dose of 5 g over 20 minutes. You're supplied with a 20g/500 mL bag. Then a maintenance infusion of 1 g/ hr, and you're supplied with a 40g/500 mL bag. Determine the flow rates of the loading dose and maintenance dose (mL/hr).(Required)
6. A patient is 28 weeks pregnant and has developed eclampsia. The patient has received a 4 g loading dose that was infused over 20 minutes. Now, the healthcare provider orders a 1 g/hr maintenance infusion of IV Magnesium Sulfate. You’re supplied with a 20 g/500 mL IV bag of this medication. What is the rate of infusion for the maintenance order?(Required)
7. A patient is 32 weeks pregnant and has developed eclampsia. The patient has received a 5 g loading dose that was infused over 30 minutes. Now, the healthcare provider orders a 2 g/hr maintenance infusion of IV Magnesium Sulfate. You’re supplied with a 10 g/250 mL IV bag of this medication. What is the rate of infusion for the maintenance order?(Required)
8. A patient is 36 weeks pregnant and has developed eclampsia. The patient has received a 6 g loading dose that was infused over 20 minutes. Now, the healthcare provider orders a 1 g/hr maintenance infusion of IV Magnesium Sulfate. You’re supplied with a 40 g/500 mL IV bag of this medication. What is the rate of infusion for the maintenance order?(Required)
9. A 32-week pregnant patient with severe preeclampsia is ordered a 4g IV magnesium sulfate loading dose over 30 minutes. You are supplied with a 20g/500mL IV bag. What is the infusion rate (mL/hr)?(Required)
10. A patient is 39 weeks pregnant and has developed eclampsia. The patient has received a 4 g loading dose that was infused over 30 minutes. Now, the healthcare provider orders a 2 g/hr maintenance infusion of IV Magnesium Sulfate. You’re supplied with a 20 g/500 mL IV bag of this medication. What is the rate of infusion for the maintenance order?(Required)

Magnesium Sulfate Dosage Calculations Practice Questions

  1. A 34-week pregnant patient with eclampsia is ordered a 4g IV magnesium sulfate loading dose over 20 minutes. You are supplied with a 4g/100mL IV bag. What is the infusion rate (mL/hr)?
    A. 200 mL/hr
    B. 180 mL/hr
    C. 400 mL/hr
    D. 300 mL/hr
    The answer is: D. 300 mL/hr
  2. A patient is 35 weeks pregnant and has developed eclampsia. The healthcare provider orders IV magnesium sulfate. The provider wants the patient to have a loading dose of 2 g over 20 minutes. You’re supplied with a 4g/100 mL bag. Then a maintenance infusion of 2 g/ hr, and you’re supplied with a 20g/500 mL bag. Determine the flow rates of the loading dose and maintenance dose (mL/hr).
    A. loading dose: 150 mL/hr, maintenance: 25 mL/hr
    B. loading dose: 400 mL/hr, maintenance: 75 mL/hr
    C. loading dose: 150 mL/hr, maintenance: 50 mL/hr
    D. loading dose: 250 mL/hr, maintenance: 100 mL/hr
    The answer is C. loading dose: 150 mL/hr, maintenance: 50 mL/hr
  3. A 30-week pregnant patient with preeclampsia is ordered a 6g IV magnesium sulfate loading dose over 30 minutes. You are supplied with a 20g/500mL IV bag. What is the infusion rate (mL/hr)?
    A. 800 mL/hr
    B. 300 mL/hr
    C. 1200 mL/hr
    D. 1000 mL/hr
    The answer is B: 300 mL/hr
  4. A 28-week pregnant patient with eclampsia is ordered a 5g IV magnesium sulfate loading dose over 30 minutes. You are supplied with a 20g/500mL IV bag. What is the infusion rate (mL/hr)?
    A. 250 mL/hr
    B. 200 mL/hr
    C. 350 mL/hr
    D. 150 mL/hr
    The answer is A: 250 mL/hr
  5. A patient is 31 weeks pregnant and has developed eclampsia. The healthcare provider orders IV magnesium sulfate. The provider wants the patient to have a loading dose of 5 g over 20 minutes. You’re supplied with a 20g/500 mL bag. Then a maintenance infusion of 1 g/ hr, and you’re supplied with a 40g/500 mL bag. Determine the flow rates of the loading dose and maintenance dose (mL/hr).
    A. loading dose: 375 mL/hr, maintenance: 12.5 mL/hr
    B. loading dose: 25 mL/hr, maintenance: 50 mL/hr
    C. loading dose: 125 mL/hr, maintenance: 25 mL/hr
    D. loading dose: 500 mL/hr, maintenance: 12.5 mL/hr
    The answer is A: A. loading dose: 375 mL/hr, maintenance: 12.5 mL/hr
  6. A patient is 28 weeks pregnant and has developed eclampsia. The patient has received a 4 g loading dose that was infused over 20 minutes. Now, the healthcare provider orders a 1 g/hr maintenance infusion of IV Magnesium Sulfate. You’re supplied with a 20 g/500 mL IV bag of this medication. What is the rate of infusion for the maintenance order?
    A. 50 mL/hr
    B. 75 mL/hr
    C. 25 mL/hr
    D. 100 mL/hr
    The answer is C: 25 mL/hr
  7. A patient is 32 weeks pregnant and has developed eclampsia. The patient has received a 5 g loading dose that was infused over 30 minutes. Now, the healthcare provider orders a 2 g/hr maintenance infusion of IV Magnesium Sulfate. You’re supplied with a 10 g/250 mL IV bag of this medication. What is the rate of infusion for the maintenance order?
    A. 75 mL/hr
    B. 100 mL/hr
    C. 25 mL.hr
    D. 50 mL/hr
    The answer is D: 50 mL/hr
  8. A patient is 36 weeks pregnant and has developed eclampsia. The patient has received a 6 g loading dose that was infused over 20 minutes. Now, the healthcare provider orders a 1 g/hr maintenance infusion of IV Magnesium Sulfate. You’re supplied with a 40 g/500 mL IV bag of this medication. What is the rate of infusion for the maintenance order?
    A. 25 mL/hr
    B. 12.5 mL/hr
    C. 50 mL/hr
    D. 75 mL/hr
    The answer is B: 12.5 mL/hr
  9. A 32-week pregnant patient with severe preeclampsia is ordered a 4g IV magnesium sulfate loading dose over 30 minutes. You are supplied with a 20g/500mL IV bag. What is the infusion rate (mL/hr)?
    A. 200 mL/hr
    B. 250 mL/hr
    C. 300 mL/hr
    D. 180 mL/hr
    The answer is A: 200 mL/hr
  10. A patient is 39 weeks pregnant and has developed eclampsia. The patient has received a 4 g loading dose that was infused over 30 minutes. Now, the healthcare provider orders a 2 g/hr maintenance infusion of IV Magnesium Sulfate. You’re supplied with a 20 g/500 mL IV bag of this medication. What is the rate of infusion for the maintenance order?
    A. 25 mL/hr
    B. 75 mL/hr
    C. 50 mL/hr
    D. 100 mL/hr
    The answer is C: 50 mL/hr

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