Dosage Calculation help

Nursing Students Student Assist

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I've been doing very well in my dosage calculations class, but lately I've been having problems when it comes to drop factors, flow rates.

How would I solve this problem? I am having a hard time setting up my dimension analysis.

Order: 2mg of medication in 1000 mL D5W at 5mcg/minute

drop factor: 10gtts/mL

calculate the flow rate in drops per minute. round to nearest tenth

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Order: 2mg of medication in 1000 mL D5W at 5mcg/minute

drop factor: 10gtts/mL

calculate the flow rate in drops per minute. round to nearest tenth

1000mL/2mg x 1mg/1000mcg x 5mcg/1min x 10gtts/1mL = 50000/2000 = 25gtt/min

This is how I would set it up. I could be wrong because I am still learning these calculations and haven't really gotten into IV therapy yet. Let me know if this answer checks out for you.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

That was very nice of waterdrifter....we ask for ALL students to post their work then we will jump right in to help.

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I got the same exact answer. Thank you so much.

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I was not aware of that protocol. Thanks for the heads up. I will remember that in the future. :)

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Specializes in Home Health.

Always remember to have someone else check your calculations in the real world!!!

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