Confusing math question...

bgxyrnf, MSN, RN · Oct 31, 2017

Ok so a friend of mine in 1st semester sent me this to try and figure out. I am currently in 4th semester. Is the answer 2 or did I calculate it incorrectly?
Order: Add 1mEq of Sodium Bicarbonate to each 250ml's of IV fluid and infuse per protocol. How many ml's would the nurse add to the IV fluid?
Infant 4.2% bicarbonate inj., USP
5mEq (0.5mEq/ml)
Any idea what it would be? I said 2ml...

Pretty straightforward: 0.5 mEq = 1 mL so by what factor must each side be multiplied to meet the problem statement?

Here's an Excel sheet... the second and third columns are simply the product of the factor in the first column and the value in the first cell of each respective column.

...........0.50 mEq = 1.00 mL

0.25.....0.13 mEq = 0.25 mL

0.75.....0.38 mEq = 0.75 mL

0.5.......0.25 mEq = 0.50 mL

1..........0.50 mEq = 1.00 mL

1.5.......0.75 mEq = 1.50 mL

2..........1.00 mEq = 2.00 mL

3..........1.50 mEq = 3.00 mL

4..........2.00 mEq = 4.00 mL

How did you come up with your answer of 2 mL?

Kuriin, BSN, RN · Oct 31, 2017

It says to add 1mEq of sodium bicarb which would be 2mL.

KrCmommy522, BSN, RN · Nov 5, 2017

Add 1 mEq of sodium bicarb

Available: 0.5 mEq/mL

Using dimensional analysis:

1 mEq x (1 mL/0.5 mEq) = 2 mL (cancel out the mEq and get 2 mL)

Is that how you figured it out?