Need Help with this drug calculation

Specialties Med-Surg Nursing Q/A

I'm a med/surg nurse who needs a little help with this math problem. I am trying to refresh my math skills that I haven't used in a long time.

The problem is a procainamide drip is ordered for 2mg/min. the standard mixture is 2g in 500 ml. What should the IV pump be set for ml/hr? I need a formula or something. Thanks

5 Answers

Order Label Conversion factors..... in the end we want ml/hr

2mg x 500ml x 60min x __1 g__ = 30ml/hr

min 2 g 1 hr 1000mg

That's the way I would set it up.

2000mg/500ml =4mg/ml = 0.5ml/min = 30ml/hr

This is the way I personally make sense of figuring out these calculations.

I know there is an easier way, but I get to the same number.

2g/500mL=2000mg/500mL=20mg/5mL=2mg/0.5mL (1g=1000mg by definition)

Since there are 2mg in each 0.5mL, the flow rate should be 0.5mL/min.

And 60 minutes x 0.5mL/minute = 30 mL/hour.

As a check, 30 mL/hr x 2mg/0.5mL=120 mg/hr. Also 2 mg/min x 60 min = 120 mg/hr.

2g/500mL=2000mg/500mL=20mg/5mL=2mg/0.5mL (1g=1000mg by definition)

Since there are 2mg in each 0.5mL, the flow rate should be 0.5mL/min.

and 60 minutes x 0.5mL/minute = 30 mL/hour.

As a check, 30 mL/hr x 2mg/0.5mL=120 mg/hr. Also 2 mg/min x 60 min = 120 mg/hr.

Thanks for the info. I think I can get it from here.

julscas said:
Order Label Conversion factors..... in the end we want ml/hr

2mg x 500ml x 60min x __1 g__ = 30ml/hr

min 2 g 1 hr 1000mg

That's the way I would set it up....:thnkg:

Perfect, thanks!

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