Pitocin D & C

[1983rn4me]

So, I'm taking a practice exam on the evolve website which does not allow me to move forward until I answer each question correctly, and I could really use some help.

I need to figure out how many mU/min is being infused.

After the placenta has been expelled, Dr. Cooper asks you to start a Pitocin (oxytocin) drip, at a concentration of 10 units in 1000 mL Lactated Ringer's.

Susan's Pitocin (oxytocin) drip is infusing with an infusion pump at a rate of 60 mL per hour. milliunits of drug is infusing per minute.

Thanks in advance!

[1983rn4me]

Problem solved. I was making it much more difficult than need be.

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

We see that a lot :)

Help out the other students here and show how you solved it.

[1983rn4me]

Yes, of course. I initially confused myself by thinking that I needed extra information such as drop factor, but I don't.

If there is 10 U in 1000 mL, then how many units will be in 60 mL?

10U/1000mL=xU/60mL

x=0.6

0.6 U/60mL

Convert 0.6 U to mU

1 u=1000 mU

So, 0.6 U= 600 mU

Therefore, there are 600 mU in that 60 mL that are given in an hr, but we have to know how many mU in a minute, so divide 600 by 60 (because there are 60 minutes in an hr) and you are left with 10 mU/min.

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

Good thinking. Students often get flustered by word problems, but in nursing, they're all word problems. Recognizing what is extraneous information is an essential critical thinking skill.

One very important suggestion: always write out the word "units" completely in any such problem and for sure when charting. In handwriting, the U is often misread. Most hospitals have a policy that the word must be written out entire.

[1983rn4me]

Great, thanks for your help!