tritration? heeelp!

Gardengal · Feb 27, 2003

Easier than what..what technique are you using....do you use computers? Calculators? Drip charts? Or do you calculate all of them with each change? The days the computerized documentation system we use calculates everything, but I have always liked what i call the magic number:

Amount of drug in mgdivided by th eamount of total fluid in the bag. x1000 /60/Kg equals the magic number which is actually a constant which approximates mcg/kg/gtt. If you know this number for each drip at the beginninng of your shift you can titrate easily. Drip rate x magic #=mcg/kg/min. Or desired mcg/kg/min divided by magic number equals drip rate....

New CCU RN · Feb 27, 2003

We have pumps that you can program the drug concentration and weight (if necessary). It is a great safety feature!

Dionysus · Feb 27, 2003

Probably not any help, but i'm sure you'll enjoy anyway's. So without further delay, here's my corney joke o' da day!

What did one titrant say to the other?

"Let's meet at the endpoint!"

:roll

RNforLongTime · Feb 27, 2003

The last ICU I worked in made us calculate the drip rates for the drugs(nitro, dopa, heparin) manually. Cause you know the IV pump could be wrong!

altomga, ADN, BSN, MSN, DNP, RN, APRN · Feb 27, 2003

We use the magic number also. Of course heparin gtt's are easy with a 25,000unit/500cc bag. If the order is for 1200 U/hr then the pump needs to be at 24cc/hr. Just double the number. What specific type of help were you looking for geleesa?

New CCU RN · Feb 28, 2003

Nurse-lou,

Makes sense if the pumps are credible. Fortunately, ours are!!!! When you have a crashing pt with little time to be doing math....it def saves precious seconds.