HELP....PLEASE

BabyLady, BSN, RN · May 28, 2009

First...convert the tsp to milliliters. 1 tsp = 5 ml

Start with the order...always...

So for every 15 ml...it contains 7.5 mg of Hydrocodone.

So you take 15 ml's and divide by 7.5 mg...that gives you the mg of Hydrocodone per ml...DO NOT ROUND THAT ANSWER.

Then...you know that 2 tsp was ordered...that is 10 mls...take the 10 mls and multiply it by the above answer.

That gives you your Hydrocodone for the order.

PS: That is a bad question to start with...a physician cannot give you an order for an Elixir that contains two medications, with an order for ONE of them without any instructions for the other....so don't worry, you'll probably never run into that on NCLEX or in real life, for that matter.

KneKno · May 28, 2009

Have:Want

I have 7.5 mg in 15cc, want ?mg in 10cc

7.5mg hydrocodone:15cc :: x:10cc

(7.5)(10)=15x

75=15x

x=75/15

x=5mg

5mg in 10cc

Remember, 5cc is 1 tsp, so 2 tsp is the same as 10cc

In real life that's not a drug I give in liquid form, so I'd also be checking the bottle, make sure the label on what you have says 7.5 mg/15cc.

This is a basic math problem in everyday nursing. How many pills to give, how much of an injection to give--Lopressor, Vasotec, heparin bolus IV all may need a little drug calc performed.

Blee O'Myacin, BSN, RN · May 28, 2009

Just a thought. There is no dosage in the order and hydrocodone comes in different concentrations. (ie - 5/325, 5/500, 7.5/500 - etc.). In the real world, I'd call the prescriber for clarification. Pharmacy would kick that right back to us as well.