calculating drugs doses

Hi, I am hoping for some help. I am a C.C. RN though I have been oow d/t a back injury for more than 2 years. I am going through my critical care class notes and realize that I do not remember my formulas for calculating drugs. I only remember .. desired dose over have on hand.. I have forgotten the rest. Also I don't seem to remember my calculation for mcg/kg/min.

Help please.

I will be going back to the unit pretty soon.

Thank you.

[zipporah]

are you still needing the equation for drug calcs. I bought a PDA that could help me out in a pinch but I will resurrect the equation if you need it....

[Catfish RN]

Yes,

I do still need them. Thank you for your help.

[LadyT618, MSN, APRN, NP]

I don't really work with formulas, but if you need mcg/kg/min, just divide by the patient's weight (in kg of course) once you have the answer in mcg/min.

[RoxanRN]

I wish I could link what my school teaches, but the site is password protected. I can copy/paste or email if you are interested. Also have a bunch of practice problems.

[SFCardiacRN]

http://classes.kumc.edu/son/nurs420/clinical/basic_review.htm

Try this site.

[roamer2]

This is a really old formula but it really does work, it came from a AACN publication about 15 to 20 years ago but it works.

mg

_____ X 16.7 divided by weight in KG = then times rate

amount

will equal mcg/kg/min

example: dopamine 800mg in 250cc= 3.2 X 16.7=53.44 divided by 75kg

equals 0.71( this is your cal factor)x rate say 15cc gives a

answer of 10.6mcg/kg/min

I don't remember where the 16.7 comes from but this formula does work I have kept it on a sticker on the back of my calculator since I found it many years ago and it always matches the answer the new nurses get with their new formulas.

Hope you get back in the swing of things okay.

from a really old ICU nurse who is still going strong.:

[Catfish RN]

Thnak you all for your help.