how to give heparin 5000units with a 1mL syringe?

[redbuttrfly14]

the order is give 5000 units subcutaneously. if i am using a 1cc or 1ml syringe, how far would i pull the stopper of the syringe back? would i draw up to 0.5ml? also, is 0.5ml equal to 5000 units?

[roser13, ASN, RN]

OP, I would love for you to come back and help us understand your needs. Given that you apparently are already an RN, are there some gaps in your education that we can help you with?

[netglow, ASN, RN]

Yikes.

[sarafina]

On a related point,,,,

what syringes do you guys use to give heparin? Do you just use the insulin syringes or do you have designated heparin syringes? We use insulin syringes but it came up the other day that that is not the right tool for the job....

[colleennurse, ASN, RN]

the hospital I work for uses TB syringes

[colleennurse, ASN, RN]

I know that the hospital I worked for changed from the 10000 units to the 5000 unit vials to prevent any type of errors, since the standard dosing is 5000 units SQ.

[CCL RN, RN]

Tb syringe.

And to whoever said yikes: I second that emotion.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

She passed 2 years ago and is currently working as a nurse...

Then I am deeply concerned about gaps in her education and needs.

To the OP............Tb, insulin syringes are all one cc. The 10 mark on an insulin syringe is the .10 mark on the 1 cc and TB syringe. The amount you place in the syringe depends on 1) how much drug you have: the concentration and 2) how much you need to give to the patient.

Heparin comes in many different concentrations

1) Heparin 10,000 units per cc and you need to give 5000 units. SQ

or

2) Heparin 5,000 units per cc and you nedd to give 5,000 units SQ

HOw much you give depends on which concentration you have. PLEASE, PLEASE PLEASE add this site to your phone It will help you sooooo much!!!!!! It has ALL the calculations

http://www.dosagehelp.com/

[teeniebert, LPN]

Holy **** dude...First, read the bottle; second, ask another nurse; third, if you're still not sure, call your pharmacist; fourth, please don't use insulin syringes for anything but insulin. I notice that you posted at 6:42 am so I'm hoping this question came from early-morning/end-of-shift brain fog and not from a genuine knowledge deficit. Best of luck to you.

[ObtundedRN, BSN, RN]

Holy **** dude...

I second that.