Reconstitution calculation problem

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Hello. I'm new :)

I know I should already know this, but I'm kinda slow in Math and being the very quiet one in class, I hardly ask for help..

I need to understand reconstitution questions such as:

Claforan 726mg IV qid is orderd:

Supplied: Claforan powdered containing 2 grams. Label states to reconstitute by adding 5 mL of diluent to yeild 330 mg in 1 mL..

Can someone possibly help me understand this? :uhoh3:

OH!! and the the questions are::

1. How many mL should you administer per dose?

2. How many mg per day?

Specializes in Peds, Med-Surg, Disaster Nsg, Parish Nsg.

330mg/1ml =725mg/x ml

330 X = 725

X = 725 / 330

X = 2.2 ml

So you would reconstitute with 5 ml of diluent and give 2.2 ml.

Specializes in Peds, Med-Surg, Disaster Nsg, Parish Nsg.

2.2 ml x 4 doses/day = 8.8ml

330 mg x 8.8 = 2904 mg per day

in reconstitution always ignore how MUCH they want you to dilute with. in this case, 5ml. ignore that.

Specializes in ICU.
in reconstitution always ignore how MUCH they want you to dilute with. in this case, 5ml. ignore that.

However, DO NOT ignore it when you doing actual reconstitutions. The amount of diluent you add will alter the concentration of drug in the finished product.

]it is much easier if you just multiply the 726 mg of desired dose by 4.

Specializes in Peds, Med-Surg, Disaster Nsg, Parish Nsg.

Oh I agree, but I didn't see the second question until I had posted my first response.

Oh I agree, but I didn't see the second question until I had posted my first response.

Really? wow, you really are good:yeah:

Anyways, to tell you the truth I'm really a moron in terms of math. lols

Being a moron in math is forgiveable, but not asking questions when you are not sure how to do something can lead to big mistakes and problems.

Assertiveness is a virtue in nursing. No one is going to think you are a moron if you admit you don't know how to do something --- especially if it means the difference between the patient receiving the right and wrong dose of medication.

Talk to your teachers and get a tutor. Practice until you feel comfortable, but never be afraid to ask questions.

New nurses who don't ask questions can be scary!

Specializes in Obstetrics.
Hello. I'm new :)

I know I should already know this, but I'm kinda slow in Math and being the very quiet one in class, I hardly ask for help..

I need to understand reconstitution questions such as:

Claforan 726mg IV qid is orderd:

Supplied: Claforan powdered containing 2 grams. Label states to reconstitute by adding 5 mL of diluent to yeild 330 mg in 1 mL..

Can someone possibly help me understand this? :uhoh3:

Reconstitutions can be tricky... what you want to look for in the problem is the word 'yield'. That is what your total drug is going to be. So, in the above question, you have desired amount of 726mg. What you have on hand is 330mg (try not to pay attention to any other numbers... they'll just confuse you). So then you'd figure it out like a normal desired drug/have. 726/330 x ml (vehicle) which gives you 2.2mL. HTH! I had issues with reconst problems and looking for the number after 'yields' really helped me. :) Good luck!!

*So sorry... I didn't realize the date on the OP! Hopefully this'll help others as well. :)

I agree with you misshane so the original person who posted this response should have first asked the teacher, that's what the teacher is there for to ask questions,to learn from them. Now if somehow you don't get what the teacher explains then ask a tutor, a student or ask in this forum but this forum should not be the first place to ask questions.

Remember we are dealing with live patients and you would NOT want to be the quiet one in class, if you're unsure about something that is the time to ask questions. Don't worry if others get it and you don't, just make sure you understand what the teacher is explaining. If we were taking art it wouldn't matter as much but people's lives are at stake so we definitely need to ask questions whenever you're unsure of something. I know this is an old post but in case new students see this then hopefully it will guide them in their education.

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