Dosage Calculation Assistance

[KrCmommy522, BSN, RN]

Hello! I am doing a dosage calculation packet that we are supposed to do before our next semester at school starts. I just want to see if I am doing this problem correctly. Hopefully you guys can help!

The physician orders ceftazidime (Tazicef) 0.5 grams IV piggyback every 12 hours.

The label reads 1 gram.

Directions for reconstitution: Reconstitute medication in vial with 10 mL sterile water. Add correct amount of reconstituted medication to 50 mL mini-bag of D5W before administering over 30 minutes.

a) What is the concentration of the mini-bag after properly mixed?

b) At what rate in mL/hr should the nurse set the pump?

So here's my calculations:

Order: 0.5 grams

Available: 1 g

Reconstitute med in vial with 10 mL sterile water. Add correct amount of reconstituted med to 50 mL mini-bag of D5W

So draw up 5 mL of reconstituted medication from the vial

Then you add 5 mL of reconstituted med to the 50 mL mini-bag = 55 mL

So the concentration of the mini-bag after being properly mixed would be 0.5 g/55 mL?

For the mL/hr calculation, I am not sure if I use the 55 mL or the original 10 mL? I think that since the medication is mixed in the mini-bag, I would hang the mini-bag and that is what I should base the volume on. So:

Any input would be greatly appreciated!! Thank you!!

[smf0903]

You did great!

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

Excellent! Thanks for showing your work. Impressive you manipulated such clear graphics.

But yes you are thinking the right way. And didn't let any of the extra info distract you. Kudos!

[KrCmommy522, BSN, RN]

Thank you for your comments! The graphics...I couldn't figure out how to put the fractions in. So I did it in a word document using the "insert equation: and tried to copy and paste it, but that didn't work. So I saved the equation as an image. But then it saved the whole word document as a little image! LoL! So then I edited the image, cropped out the extra word document stuff so just the equation was left. It sounds like a lot but only took a few minutes, but was definitely frustrating!

Again, thank you very much for checking my work!