Dosage Calculation Help - ml/hr for heparin

Nursing Students Student Assist Nursing Q/A

I've done these before but for some reason I'm blanking out on how to complete this problem. I usually use dimensional analysis and I can't remember how to set it up.


1. The order is to infuse 1000 units heparin per hour from an available solution strength of 25,000 units in 500 ml D5W. Calculate the ml/hr rate.

2. A solution of 25,000 units heparin in 500 ml D5W to infuse at a rate of 1200 units per hour. Calculate the ml/hr rate.

3. A 500 ml D5W with 20,000 units heparin infusing at 1000 units/hour. An order states to increase by 240 units/hour. What is the new rate? (do you just add the 240 to the original 1000 units?)

Thanks for any help!

17 Answers

I am on my way to my auntie's house right now and ran into this post. I calculated the first one and my answer is 20ml/hr .. First u have to know how many units of heparin per 1ml solution , so = 25,000/500 = 50 Units of heparin/ml, then the order is 1000 unit/hr divided into 50 unit/ml it'll give you the answer of 20ml/hr... So my answer is 20ml/hr..

If you rely on a particular formula and then forget the formula, you're lost. But if you can figure out what they are asking then you can figure out how to get the answer.

This is why they use word problems when taking algebra, and why your nursing program wants to have you pass algebra before you start working with medications.

So...

How many units are there in one cc of the solution?
25,000 units / 500cc = ..... units/cc

How many of those does it take to have 1000 units?

1. The order is to infuse 1000 units heparin per hour from an available solution strength of 25,000 units in 500 ml D5W. Calculate the ml/hr rate. 500ml\25000 x 1000\1 =20 ml\hr

2. A solution of 25,000 units heparin in 500 ml D5W to infuse at a rate of 1200 units per hour. Calculate the ml/hr rate. 500\25000 x 1200\1 = 24 ml\hr

3. A 500 ml D5W with 20,000 units heparin infusing at 1000 units/hour. An order states to increase by 240 units/hour. What is the new rate? (do you just add the 240 to the original 1000 units?) 1000 units to start, 240 units after the first hour = 1240 units\hr

I need help with this question : you have 500 ml of D5W with 25,000 units of Heparin added. The drip factor is 60 gtt/hr. What should the flow rate be if the patient is to receive 800 units/h of Heparin IV?

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i need help with this question : you have 500 ml of D5W with 25,000 units of Heparin added. The drip factor is 60 gtt/hr. What should the flow rate be if the patient is to receive 800 units/h of Heparin IV????????????

OK, before we move on, your drip factor is WRONG.

What you've written is drops per hour which is a RATE... how many drops over what period of time.

That is not what a drip factor IS... a drip factor tells you the size of each drop... (well, strictly speaking, it directly tells you how many drops make up one milliliter of volume... the inverse of which is the size of each drop)...

The drip factor is 60 gtt/mL... that is, it takes 60 drops to make 1 mL... meaning, very small drops...

Now that we understand WHAT a drip factor actually is, let's move on...

i remembered it as soon as i thought about it for a couple mins. Just been awhile since I've done these type.The DA method just works best for my brain that's why i use it. I've taken algebra, stats, all that fun stuff. I just had a brain fart and was hoping to have my memory jogged.

Quote

3. a 500 ml d5w with 20,000 units heparin infusing at 1000 units/hour. an order states to increase by 240 units/hour. what is the new rate? (do you just add the 240 to the original 1000 units?) 1000 units to start, 240 units after the first hour = 1240 units\hr

I think they probably wanted to know how many cc/hour, but you might get partial credit for taking the question so literally. :D

grntea said:

I think they probably wanted to know how many cc/hour, but you might get partial credit for taking the question so literally. :D

31 ml\hr

please help me to see if I figured this right: you have 500 ml of D5W with 25,000 units of Heparin added. The drop factor is 60gtt/min. What should the flow rate be if the patient is to receive 800 units/hr of Heparin IV? answer 16ml/Hr

please help to see if i figure this right patient is to be give 10 mg and available 1 ml vials (40 mg/ ml ) how many vials should be adminster. answer 2

Specializes in Gerontology.

please help to see if i figure this right patient is to be give 10 mg and available 1 ml vials (40 mg/ ml ) how many vials should be adminster. answer 2

No.

You have 40 mg/ml. You want 10mg. See if you can take it from there.

Larryhaven, it seems like you're right.. I also got the same answer..

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