Calculation

[redneckrn2b]

Guys i really do not understand how to do this.

The physician orders Pronestyl at 1 mg/min. Solution avail. is 1gm in 500cc D5W. What rate shoud it run if drip factor is 60 gtt/mL.

I know you have to convert the 1 gm to 1000 but thats about as far as i can get PLEASE help me.

Thanks

[Nrs_angie, BSN, RN]

happy holidays

[SMS80]

you know that the formula that you will need is:

V/T x gtt Factor

you know the volume to be infused: 500cc

gtt Factor: 60 gtt/mL

but you have to figure out the time...

the doc wants 1mg/min and 1000mg/500mL is what's available...

so set up a proportion using this information:

1mg/1min = 1000mg/X min

X = 1000 min

now, set up the equation:

500cc/1000min x 60 gtt/mL = 30 gtts/min

i think i did this right... hope this helps...

[Nrs_angie, BSN, RN]

happy holidays

[captron74]

Guys i really do not understand how to do this.

The physician orders Pronestyl at 1 mg/min. Solution avail. is 1gm in 500cc D5W. What rate shoud it run if drip factor is 60 gtt/mL.

I know you have to convert the 1 gm to 1000 but thats about as far as i can get PLEASE help me.

Thanks

I would first convert the order to mg/hr, which would be 60mg/hr That would be your desired amount. You have 1000 mg x 500 mL (Remember 1 cc = 1 mL). Convert the desired amount to mL using the standard D/H x Q, which would be 60mg/1000mg x 500 mL = 30 mL. Then plug the drip factor into the problem, giving you (30 mL/60 min) x (60 gtt/1 mL) = 30 gtt/1 min, or just 30 gtt. Remember that if you see 60 gtt, you basically do not have to do any further calculations, as your answer will be the same value as your volume in mL.

People that have more experience could just put everything into one long formula, but I prefer to break it down into steps for right now. Hope this helps you.

Ron

[redneckrn2b]

Thanks guys so much for all of your help. I was really Stuck.

[SMS80]

SMS80 your way is reallyyyyyy confusing! proportions suck... why do people still use those? LOL

funny... i think your way is reallyyyyy confusing...

[captron74]

My vote goes for NrsAngie's way of doing it, only because that is how we are being taught right now in Dosage Calc class. It is probably all in what you are used to and how you were taught. Whatever works for you is the best way.

[redneckrn2b]

i never learned the division factor. But it helped me out bunches. We're doing the heart test this time. Its really complicated, all the electrical EKG and all that. BLAHHHH

[Nrs_angie, BSN, RN]

funny... i think your way is reallyyyyy confusing...

trust me its much simpler and quicker...

that is why its called the SHORTCUT METHOD silly

maybe you will understand if I give you an example

there are different sets of IV tubing

macrodrip sets have a drop factor of 10, 15, or 20... 15 is most common

microdrip sets are drop factor of 60

drop factors tell you the # of gtt in 1 min

take the # of minutes in an hour (60)

and divide by the drop factor to get the DIVISION FACTOR (used lated)

60/10 = 6 60/15=4 60/20=3 60/60=1

6, 4, 3, or 1 is your division factor which is used later...

now for example

if the order states to give the patient 1000 over 8 hours

1000mL/8hr = 125 mL/hr

you have macrodrip IV tubing set up of 15

125 / 4 = 31.2 rounded to whole number is 31 gtt/min

you have microdrip IV tubing set of 60 drop factor

125 / 1 = 125 gtt/min

[redneckrn2b]

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. LoL maybe i will use that tomorrow on the test. Hehe i had an epiphany :)

[Nrs_angie, BSN, RN]

Happy Holidays