The Nursing Math Thread

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A member pm'd me the following question highlighted below. We created this thread for you guys to talk about math, solve math problems, and post math websites that you have found helpful.

I was wondering, is there a sticky or a special site that can be coordinated for "math sufferers". Perhaps, beginning calculations or shall i say the basics..simple to complex...step by step on how to calculate. I'm a visual learner, numbers and I don't work well. I am trying, but I've got a block!

This is not really a math question, but it is from my drug dosage calculations class....

What is missing from these 2 drug orders?

Nexium 1 capsule po daily

Benadryl capsule po t.i.d.

Is it the dosage? Does Nexium come in more than one dosage? How about Benadryl?

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Specializes in Many.

sk8rmom, both drugs are missing the strength. Even if there is one strength you still need to have the dosage. Benadryl has different dosages, ie, 12.5mg, 25mg, 50mg and so forth. Strength also depends on what it is used for. Hope this helps.

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.
This is not really a math question, but it is from my drug dosage calculations class....

What is missing from these 2 drug orders?

Nexium 1 capsule po daily

Benadryl capsule po t.i.d.

Is it the dosage? Does Nexium come in more than one dosage? How about Benadryl?

Nexium comes in 20mg and 40mg capsules. The order does not stipulate the dosage of the capsule.

Benadryl comes in 25mg and 50mg capsules. The order does not stipulate the dosage of the capsule.

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Our nursing instuctor started giving us harder problems, not really for us to get right but to stretch us. I can't seem to get these.

1. The patient is prescribed ampicillin sulbactam (Unasyn) 3.5 Gm IVPB every 6 hours. The pharmacy has supplied bags labeled : Unasyn 3.5 Gm. In 50 ml infuse over 30 min. The IV pump is set in ml/hour. What should the rate be set on the pump?

2. A new submission has orders for Dextrose 5% in water with 30 miq KCL per L to infuse at 125 ml per hr. The pharmacy as supplied 1 L IV bags labeled : KCL 40 meq ? 20 ml . How many ml should be added to each IV bag?

Thank you!!

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our nursing instuctor started giving us harder problems, not really for us to get right but to stretch us. i can't seem to get these.

1. the patient is prescribed ampicillin sulbactam (unasyn) 3.5 gm ivpb every 6 hours. the pharmacy has supplied bags labeled : unasyn 3.5 gm. in 50 ml infuse over 30 min. the iv pump is set in ml/hour. what should the rate be set on the pump?

50ml x 60min = 3000 = 100ml/hr

30min.....1hr..... 30

2. a new submission has orders for dextrose 5% in water with 30 meq kcl per l to infuse at 125 ml per hr. the pharmacy as supplied 1 l iv bags labeled : kcl 40 meq / 20 ml . how many ml should be added to each iv bag?

40meq : 20ml :: 30meq : xml

40x= 600

x= 15ml

i don't quite understand this one, so i am assuming this bag labeled: kcl 40 meq/ 20ml is the bag you are drawing from to add to the 1 l bag of d5w?

thank you!!

here you go my answers are in red.

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hey dont talk abt maths . only i know how i cleaared it

What??

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Thank you, Beth!!!

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.
a new submission has orders for dextrose 5% in water with 30 meq kcl per l to infuse at 125 ml per hr. the pharmacy has supplied kcl 40 meq per 20 ml. how many ml of the kcl 40 meq should be added to each liter of dextrose 5% in water?

using this formula:

ordered/have x volume per have

also expressed as dose desired/dose on hand x amount per dose on hand, you get

30 meq/40 meq x 20 ml = 15 ml

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Can someone please help me with the following math problem?

Maintenance calories for 160 lbs is 2000 calories. Pt will exercise 250 cal. How many calories must the pt decrease from her maintenance in order to lose one lb per week?..3500 calories equals to 1pound.

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.
Can someone please help me with the following math problem?

Maintenance calories for 160 lbs is 2000 calories. Pt will exercise 250 cal. How many calories must the pt decrease from her maintenance in order to lose one lb per week?..3500 calories equals to 1pound.

(2,000 calories/day x 7 days - 3500 calories)/7 days = 1,500 calories/day

or

Just divide the 3,500 calories by 7 days to get 500 calories which is how much she much decrease her calorie intake per day, so 2,000 calories - 500 calories = 1,500 calories.

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I also use Calc. with confidence and it is a great book. I have a lot of problems with math and making it make sense to me. It is really good practice for figuring out dosages.

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I also use this book and it's great.

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