Can someone help clarify this pediatric dosage problem

MunoRN, RN · Aug 24, 2013

I've never heard of an "IVAC" either, but after looking it up apparently it's a brand name of an IV pump, which is a really inappropriate way to ask this type of question.

Anyway, the E basically asks what rate, in mls per hour, that you would set the IV pump to run at, although I don't know why there's another blank after "hour".

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Aug 24, 2013

1. Order: Gentamicin 8 mg / kg /day q6h for a child weighing 72 lb.
a. Give ____65 mg/ dose ______ mg per dose.
b. Gentamicin is provided as 80 mg / 2 mL.
c. How many mL would you draw up/ ______1.62 or 1.6 mL _______
d. The Gentamicin is to be added to 15 mL of IV fluid and infused over 60 minutes.
e. How fast would you set the IVAC? _______ mL per hour________________
I can get everything else but I am having trouble understanding E.

What is the total volume after you dilute the Gent with 15 mL? You want to infuse that total volume over 1 hour so that's your answer.

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Aug 26, 2013

Yeah, really, let's not overthink this. When a dose (of anything) (in X amount of fluid) has to be given over an hour, the amount of fluid it's in is your answer-- Xcc/hour.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Aug 27, 2013

[TABLE=class: fraction]

[TR]

[TD=class: numerator]Volume (mL) = Y (Flow Rate in mL/hr)

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=class: denominator] Time (hr) [/TD]

[/TR]

[/TABLE]

DosageHelp.com - Helping Nursing Students Learn Dosage Calculations - Volume/Time - IV mL Rate Questions

OR

[TABLE=class: fraction]

[TR]

[TD=class: numerator]Volume (mL) x Drop Factor (gtts/mL) = Y (Flow Rate in gtts/min)

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=class: denominator] Time (min) [/TD]

[/TR]

[/TABLE]

DosageHelp.com - Helping Nursing Students Learn Dosage Calculations - Volume/Time - IV Drop Rate Questions