I have 2 IV Pitocin Problems I need help with...

Nurses General Nursing

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First Calculation Problem: A patient is to receive 12 milliunits per minute of Pitocin. The directions for making up the fluid is to add 15 units of Pitocin to 1 liter of 5 % dextrose solution. Determine the rate of the IV in gtts/min and cc/hr using a drop factor of 40 gtts/ml.:cry:

Second calculation problem: A patient is to receive 10 milliunits per minute of Pitocin. The directions for making up the fluid is to add 8 units of Pitocin to 1 liter of 5% dextrose solution. Using a drop factor of 60gtts/ml, determine how long (in hours) would the 1 liter IV fluid last in continuous infusion? :cry:

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Specializes in Emergency, outpatient.

:chuckle Uh,uh, sweetie. Do your own calculations.

Yes, you can do it. Try again.

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Specializes in ICU/ER.

I hated math questions in school, I am so happy to be done with them. They always made them much harder in school than what they actually are in the real world.

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I've tried but was never taught to do this kind of IV calculation. I know all of the med calculations and the rest of the IV calculations. Pitocin calculations weren't taught in LPN nursing school. So if there's anybody out there with a heart, I'd appreciate a teaching lesson just for these 2 Pitocin questions. Thanks!

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Specializes in Fall prevention.

ok sorry I tried but I am not getting one of the conversion factors wrong and can not find my nursing school math book. If you can find it you might try a book called nursing math simplified math magic it really helped me.

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Specializes in L&D.
First Calculation Problem: A patient is to receive 12 milliunits per minute of Pitocin. The directions for making up the fluid is to add 15 units of Pitocin to 1 liter of 5 % dextrose solution. Determine the rate of the IV in gtts/min and cc/hr using a drop factor of 40 gtts/ml.:cry:

Second calculation problem: A patient is to receive 10 milliunits per minute of Pitocin. The directions for making up the fluid is to add 8 units of Pitocin to 1 liter of 5% dextrose solution. Using a drop factor of 60gtts/ml, determine how long (in hours) would the 1 liter IV fluid last in continuous infusion? :cry:

I can see problems with this in real practice: different admixtures. A big no-no! Safety issue! We do a standard 20 units pitocin in 1000 cc LR. That mixes to 1 mu/min equals 3 cc/hr on the pump.

Also - a pump is a MUST for running pitocin!!

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I can see problems with this in real practice: different admixtures. A big no-no! Safety issue! We do a standard 20 units pitocin in 1000 cc LR. That mixes to 1 mu/min equals 3 cc/hr on the pump.

Also - a pump is a MUST for running pitocin!!

These are practice exam problems just to see if we could get the answer to the problem--not a real life IV problem. So are you saying there is no solution to either of these 2 IV problems?

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Specializes in cardiac/education.

I think I have the answers but do you have the answers? I can help you but I have to know if what I have is right. I can show you how to get there. What r the final answers?

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Specializes in cardiac/education.

If anyone else got the answers, will you PM me with them? I just spent 20 min trying to figure this out 1 yr out of nursing school and with no work experience so I'd really love the answers, lol...:D See how rusty I am....:chuckle

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I'm still in nursing school and have spent the weekend working on math problems in preparation for my upcoming clinical math test so here's what I got (I can only do dimensional analysis; I have to see my units):

Question 1:

Calculate the concentration of the solution:

15 units added to 1000mL--

15 units X 1000= 15000 munits

15000 munits/1000 mL= 15 munits/mL

drops/min:

12 munits X 1mL X 40 gtt = 32 gtt

min 15 munits mL min

ml/hr:

32 gtt X 1mL X 60 min = 48 ml

min 40 gtt 1h h

Question 2:

Concentration of solution:

8 units X 1000= 8000munits

8000 munits/1000 mL= 8 munits/mL

mL/hr:

10 munits X 60 min X 1 mL = 75mL/hr

min 1 h 8 munits

hours solution will last:

1000mL X 1 hr = 13.3h

75ml

I hope that is right.

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Sorry, it looks like the bottom units are not aligning under their corresponding upper units on the post. Here it is again with the slash as the dividing line:

Question 1:

Calculate the concentration of the solution:

15 units added to 1000mL--

15 units X 1000= 15000 munits

15000 munits/1000 mL= 15 munits/mL

drops/min:

12 munits/min X 1 mL/15 munits X 40 gtt/mL= 32 gtt/min

ml/hr:

32 gtt/min X 1mL/40 gtt X 60 min/1h= 48 ml/h

Question 2:

Concentration of solution:

8 units X 1000= 8000munits

8000 munits/1000 mL= 8 munits/mL

mL/hr:

10 munits/min X 60 min/1 h X 1 mL/8 munits = 75mL/hr

hours solution will last:

1000mL X 1 hr/75 mL = 13.3h

I hope that is right.

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First of all, thank you for working out the problems for me.

The answer sheet for the Math for Nurses Practice Exam, that I'm working on, gives the answer to Question #1 as 40 gtt/min, rather than 32 gtt/min but your second answer for Question #1, 48 gtt/hr is in agreement with the answer sheet. I'm wondering if the answer sheet is wrong???? Your answer of 32gtt/min has got to be right-do you agree?

You have the same answer as the answer sheet for Question #2.

I had the answers, I just didn't know how to work the problems and again I really appreciate your help!!!! Thanks a bunch!!!! :yeah:

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