Old nurse needs math help!

Nurses General Nursing

Published

hello! i am re-entering the nursing field and trying to brush up on my math. can anyone help me solve this problem using dimensional analysis? i have been working on it forever!!!!

[color=#0080c0]for the client whose weight is 130 lbs and has dopamine ordered at 8 mcg/kg/min, what rate should the infusion pump be set for a solution of 400 mg dopamine in 250 ml d5w?

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[color=#0080c0]thanks!!!

MissIt

175 Posts

So, first you want to know mcg/min. 130 pounds = 59.09 kg

8 (59.09)=472.73

So, your order is for 472.7mcg/min or 0.473mg/min or 28.3mg/hour (60 minutes)

Then you want to know how many mg are in each ml.

400/250

So, 1.6mg/ml

So now you know there are 1.6mg/ml and 28.3mg/hour

How many ml/hour do you need to get this dose? In other words, how many ml will get you the 28.3mg?

28.2/1.6= 17.7 ml/hr

EymieICURN

44 Posts

Specializes in Adult ICU (All over), NICU, Education.

8 mcg X 130 lb X 1kg/2.2 lb X 250 ml/400mg X 1mg/1000mcg X 60min/1hr

______

kg/min

=17.7 ml/hr

gtoko

101 Posts

I do not know about dimensional analysis, but I used the good ole formula method and came up with 17.7 ml/hr.

How long have you been away from nursing? I am getting back in nursing as well.

Good luck and feel free to pm me, love to talk with you regarding returning to the field.

PureLifeRN

149 Posts

Specializes in OR.

Thanks everyone! I am returning after about 3 years being away from the bedside. I was overseas in central asia as a humanitarian aid worker and got a bit rusty on my nursing skills :) It took a while for me to get a job and most hospital recruiters said I was "borderline" for the hospital, and I really didn't want to take a refresher course....although a med math refresher course might be useful!

gtoko- how long have you been out?

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