The Nursing Math Thread

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A member pm'd me the following question highlighted below. We created this thread for you guys to talk about math, solve math problems, and post math websites that you have found helpful.

I was wondering, is there a sticky or a special site that can be coordinated for "math sufferers". Perhaps, beginning calculations or shall i say the basics..simple to complex...step by step on how to calculate. I'm a visual learner, numbers and I don't work well. I am trying, but I've got a block!

The stats you'll be taking are for research purposes, you will NOT have any problems with stats!! Don't let that scare you, take it, and be glad you did...seriously, you WILL be fine!

thanks these sites made it easier for me to understand than the instructer

Specializes in med surg and acute behavorial health.

Hi all. I have a question regarding calculating caloric intake for infants. I tried using my Calculate with Confidence by Morris but no help. I will be seeing alot more of these problems in pedi but i still have a problem working them out. Please I would like some advice on how to work them, where to start, basically any advice in working them. also if you may know of a website were i can gain more practice in doing them. Thanks for your input on how to work these types of problems. I have placed an example of what i mean below.

An infant has an IV of D10W running @15cc/hr. The child weighs 10lbs nd 12oz. The following feeding orders were written:

Beginning@ 9am, give 18cc of Similac 24 q3 hrs x1, if tolerated, rduce IV to 10cc/hr & increase feeding to 30cc q3hrs x2, if tolerated, reduce the IV to 5cc/hr & increase formula to 45cc q3hrs x3, if tolerated, d/c the IV & advance formula to 60cc q3hrs.

1. Based on body weight, what is the minimum number of calories required by the infant in a 24hr period?

2. How many calories will the infant recieve in a 24hr period?

3. What is the minimum amount of fluid required by the infant in a 24hr period?

4. How many cc's of fluid will the infant recieve in a 24hr period?

this is all amazing. thank you all so much for all of this info!

i found this site!! i think i am going to buy it!

http://www.learningupgrade.com/html/luadult.htm

Specializes in n/a.

Here is a website where math professionals help with everything from Grade School Math to Doctorate Level Math.

http://www.mathhelpforum.com

They also run a physics forum

http://www.physicshelpforum.com

can some one tell me how these two problems should be set up?

1.

order: 1250ml in 15h

drop factor: 10gtt/ml

flow rate: 14gtt/min.

after 7h 500ml remain. recalculate in mcgtt/min?

2.

order: 180mg/kg in 1000ml for 100mins.

patient weighs 75kg

calculate in ml/h?

Ok, let's get this straight: Your order is: give 1250ml in 15 hr, drop factor is 10gtt/ml, rate 14gtt/min. After 7hrs 500ml are remaining , recalculate rate.I think you need to focus in what is asking: recalculate the remaining 500ml for the following 7hrs. With the data you have it should be 500ml / 7hr (420min) and multiply by drop factor of 10gtt/ml (500/420x10=11.9=12gtt/min)

In your second problem:

I really do not understand the question, there is something missing. Order 180mg/kg, pt's weight 75kg, 1000 in 100 min? Waht is the concentration of the medication in the 1000ml? or do you need to know how fast you will give the 1000 in 100 minutes (10ml/min) I really do not know whatis the question asking because 180x75=13500 but you cannot do anything else since you do not have the medication concentration.

I am sorry, I try to help, if some one give you a better answer, please let me know!:confused:

Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.
can some one tell me how these two problems should be set up?

1.

order: 1250ml in 15 hours

drop factor: 10gtt/ml

flow rate: 14gtt/min.

after 7 hours 500ml remains. Recalculate in micro gtt/min?

2.

order: 180mg/kg in 1000ml for 100 minutes.

patient weighs 75kg

calculate in ml/hour

#1 - 15 hours minus 7 hours = 8 hours left for 500 mL to infuse in micro gtts/minute. Microdrip tubing has a drop factor of 60 drops/mL. You must convert hours to minutes. So, your new problem is:

Amount to give: 500 mL

Drop factor: 60 gtts/mL

Time: 8 hours

500 mL/8 hours
(amount to give)
x 60 gtts/mL
(drop factor)
x 1 hour/60 minutes
(conversion factor)
= 62.5 gtts/minute
, roundd off to
63 gtts/minute

#2 - The problem is really quite simple. It is asking you to give 1000 mL in 100 minutes. The amount of the drug to be mixed in the solution is not being addressed and that information is just there to distract you. You need a conversion factor to change the minutes to hours. So,

1000 mL/100 minutes
(amount to give)
x 60 minutes/1 hour
(conversion factor)
=
600 mL/hour
(infusion rate)

#1 - 15 hours minus 7 hours = 8 hours left for 500 mL to infuse in micro gtts/minute. Microdrip tubing has a drop factor of 60 drops/mL. You must convert hours to minutes. So, your new problem is:

Amount to give: 500 mL

Drop factor: 60 gtts/mL

Time: 8 hours

500 mL/8 hours
(amount to give)
x 60 gtts/mL
(drop factor)
x 1 hour/60 minutes
(conversion factor)
= 62.5 gtts/minute
, roundd off to
63 gtts/minute

#2 - The problem is really quite simple. It is asking you to give 1000 mL in 100 minutes. The amount of the drug to be mixed in the solution is not being addressed and that information is just there to distract you. You need a conversion factor to change the minutes to hours. So,

1000 mL/100 minutes
(amount to give)
x 60 minutes/1 hour
(conversion factor)
=
600 mL/hour
(infusion rate)

Thank you, I was confused! I knew I have to calculate the remaining hours (8) but once I started I went back to 7, that's why its very important to double check math questions!! I do have a question, why do I need to change the drop factor to micro (60) since that information was not given in the problem? Should I change it even though it was not given every time that I have results with low gtt/min?

Ok, let's get this straight: Your order is: give 1250ml in 15 hr, drop factor is 10gtt/ml, rate 14gtt/min. After 7hrs 500ml are remaining , recalculate rate.I think you need to focus in what is asking: recalculate the remaining 500ml for the following 8hrs. With the data you have it should be 500ml / 8hr (480min) and multiply by drop factor of 10gtt/ml (500/480x10=10.4=10gtt/min=60gtt/ml)

In your second problem:

I really do not understand the question, there is something missing. Order 180mg/kg, pt's weight 75kg, 1000 in 100 min? Waht is the concentration of the medication in the 1000ml? or do you need to know how fast you will give the 1000 in 100 minutes (10ml/min= 600ml/hr) I really do not know what is the question asking because 180x75=13500 but you cannot do anything else since you do not have the medication concentration.

I am sorry, I try to help, if some one give you a better answer, please let me know!:confused:

10ml/min=600ml/hr which is the infusion rate!

Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.
thank you, i was confused! i knew i have to calculate the remaining hours (8) but once i started i went back to 7, that's why its very important to double check math questions!! i do have a question, why do i need to change the drop factor to micro (60) since that information was not given in the problem? should i change it even though it was not given every time that i have results with low gtt/min?

that information was given to you in the problem. the problem said: "recalculate in mcgtt/min". mcgtt, or microdrop tubing, can only be accomplished with pediatric tubing and the drip factor for it is 60 drops/ml. yes, you needed to change the drip rate in order to get the correct answer. the iv in the first problem should have infused at 83cc/hour (1250cc over 15 hours) but "got away" and infused faster than it was supposed to (750cc in 7 hours, or 107cc/hour). so, i would assume that the iv tubing was changed to pediatric drip tubing in order to control the rate of infusion better. that happened in hospitals a lot before all ivs were put on iv pumps.

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