I can't figure this out!!!

Nursing Students Student Assist

Published

Let me start by saying I am NOT asking for someone to do my homework!!! I'm just asking for some help on figuring something out.

I am in dosages and solutions and I am having a hard time figuring out HOW to do these problems. Before I give you one, I just want to say that I don't want the answer because this IS one of my questions, I just want to know how to do it or set it up to figure it out.

Order: KCI elixer 30 mEq po bid

Supply: liquid labeled 30 mEq/15 mL

How do I figure out how to fill the order? Yes, I did look in the book, but I'm just not getting it.

Thanks

MissLo

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Let me start by saying I am NOT asking for someone to do my homework!!! I'm just asking for some help on figuring something out.

I am in dosages and solutions and I am having a hard time figuring out HOW to do these problems. Before I give you one, I just want to say that I don't want the answer because this IS one of my questions, I just want to know how to do it or set it up to figure it out.

Order: KCI elixer 30 mEq po bid

Supply: liquid labeled 30 mEq/15 mL

How do I figure out how to fill the order? Yes, I did look in the book, but I'm just not getting it.

Thanks

MissLo

The question is asking you how many mL's you would give the patient.

If the order is for 30mEq and there are 30 mEq's in 15 mL's, how many mL's do you give the patient?

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Shoot, I had a brain cramp!

The order was for 20mEq not 30

But I think I figured it out. Would I set it up like this?

30 mEq 20 mEq

------- -------

15 mL x

Then cross multiply 20 and 15 thendivide by 30? If so, I came up with 10 mL

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Shoot, I had a brain cramp!

The order was for 20mEq not 30

But I think I figured it out. Would I set it up like this?

30 mEq 20 mEq

------- -------

15 mL x

Then cross multiply 20 and 15 thendivide by 30? If so, I came up with 10 mL

Yes, exactly.

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Too cool! Thanks a million

MissLo

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Order: KCI elixer 30 mEq po bid

Supply: liquid labeled 30 mEq/15 mL

mL= 15mL/30 mEq x 30 mEq/mL = 15 mL

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Specializes in Ortho, Neuro, Detox, Tele.

Ok....this may be a more general way to solve these problems...one that will serve you well with most general math problems.

(Dose desired/ Dose on hand) * unit measure

i.e. (20mEQ/30mEQ) * 15ML = 10mL

But who cares as long as you can show HOW you get the answer?

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

misslo. . .there are weblinks to a number of great online tutorials posted on post #3 of this sticky thread that you should check out:

you can also see a number of problems worked out on this sticky thread:

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