Dosage Calculation Question

Nursing Students Student Assist

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Specializes in Hospice, Palliative Care.

Good day everyone:

For the problem and answer below...

Why would the 200 mg be ignored in doing the math?

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Thank you.

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Because you are giving the complete 200mg. We know that we are supposed to administer all 200mg, and that 200mg is in the 250mL. So it becomes irrelevant. The 250mL becomes the main factor in the equation. Gtts/min is what we are solving for. We know the tubing factor gives so many gtts per mL. This equation is asking for rate of gtts, not amount of medication.

The only time we would involve the 200mg is if we were doing a fraction of the dose to be administered. Such as 150mg of this medication that is supplied as 200mg in 250mL of solution.

I love math! Don't be afraid if you'd like more help or anything. You can PM me if you like. I love medication equations lol.

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Specializes in Primary Care, OR.

Your answer is correct, although your equation to get there is rather....lengthy? Almost confused me.

the reason the 200mg is ignored is because that is the added medication inside the fluid to be given. The 200mg will never change even if you had a 1L bag. You see? You remove that. The question is asking you about the fluid, not the "medication".

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Specializes in MICU.
Good day everyone:

For the problem and answer below...

[ATTACH=CONFIG]15190[/ATTACH]

Why would the 200 mg be ignored in doing the math?

Thank you.

What kind of software did you use to solve the equation. I have been looking for something like that

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Specializes in Hospice, Palliative Care.

Good day:

Thank you everyone for your input. There was no software. I'm working on dosage calculation practice sets, and one of the sets included an answer sheet that walks you through the problem. I got that particular question wrong because I was trying to incorporate the 200 mg; it was one the only practice problem to date that listed a weight based dosage (in this case 200 mg) where it didn't use the weight in the solution. Since I've an upcoming test this Tuesday, I wanted to understand why the 200 mg wasn't used.

All of you helped me understand; thank you!

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Specializes in Emergency.
What kind of software did you use to solve the equation. I have been looking for something like that

That's dimensional analysis. All you need is pen & paper.

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