Help with calculations Please!!!!

blondy2061h, MSN, RN · Feb 7, 2009

In question 1, Novolin 70/30 is 70% NPH (intermediate) and 30% regular (short acting). That's what the 70/30 is for. So just figure out 70% of 20 and 30% of 20.

In question 2, for fluid intake, just multiple the rate (150 ml/hr) by how many hours you're calculating fluid intake over (24, in this case). Then take that amount of fluid, and multiply the liters by how much potassium is in it (20, in this case) for potassium intake.

Those are both quite basic questions. How much did you think them through yourself? If you just think about the information being given, and what's being asked, you should be able to figure this type of question out with little difficulty.

LeavingTeaching4RN · Feb 7, 2009

okay so i'm trying to wrap my head around these questions.
1) patient is on novolin 70/30 insulin. they receive 20 units sc bid. how many units of intermediate acting insulin do they receive per dose and how many units of short acting do they receive per dose?
70% is intermediate. so, 0.7 times 20 units = 14 units
30% is regular. so, 0.3 times 20 units = 6 units
2) your patient iv is ns with 20 meq kcl per liter running at 150 ml/hr. what is the fluid intake for a 24-hours period? and, how much potassium is being recieved over a 24-hour period?

150 ml/hr times 24 hrs = 3600 ml/day

3600 ml divided by 1000 = 3.6 liters

3.6 liters times 20 meq = 72 meq kcl

math is not crystal clear for everyone. i hope this helps.

ChiSmile6 · Feb 7, 2009

I am horrible at math...but willing to learn. This is probably a ridiculous question but why do you convert the ml to L?

morte, LPN, LVN · Feb 7, 2009

I am horrible at math...but willing to learn. This is probably a ridiculous question but why do you convert the ml to L?

because the K+ is dosed per liter....so, unless you want to figure out how many mEq of K+ are in ea ml, ......

trepinCT · Feb 7, 2009

Okay so I'm trying to wrap my head around these questions.
1) Patient is on Novolin 70/30 insulin. They receive 20 units sc bid. How many units of intermediate acting insulin do they receive per dose and how many units of short acting do they receive per dose?
2) Your patient IV is NS with 20 mEq KCL per liter running at 150 mL/hr. What is the fluid intake for a 24-hours period? And, how much potassium is being received over a 24-hour period?

for #2..I am wondering why it is asking about fluid intake for a 24 hour period..if we assume the NS is a 1000mL bag and it runs at 150mL/hr it would run for only about a little over 6 hours...because the KCL is running at mL/hr ( and thats how IVs run) we have to convert the liter to mL...are you sure it said per liter??? The questions doesnt make much sense to me...and medication and IV math is not usually a problem for me...

trepinCT · Feb 7, 2009

150 ml/hr times 24 hrs = 3600 ml/day
3600 ml divided by 1000 = 3.6 liters
3.6 liters times 20 meq = 72 meq kcl
math is not crystal clear for everyone. i hope this helps.

the question doesnt say there is more than one order for the ns and kcl..its asking what the intake is for a 24 hour period..150ml isint multiplied by 24...the 150ml needs to be divided by the iv fluid amounts and its saying the kcl is in ns and we assume that the iv of ns is 1000ml( it doesnt say how much ns we have). if you run a 1000ml bag of ns at 150ml/hr you divide to get how many hours it will run...not multiply..

morte, LPN, LVN · Feb 7, 2009

for #2..I am wondering why it is asking about fluid intake for a 24 hour period..if we assume the NS is a 1000mL bag and it runs at 150mL/hr it would run for only about a little over 6 hours...because the KCL is running at mL/hr ( and thats how IVs run) we have to convert the liter to mL...are you sure it said per liter??? The questions doesnt make much sense to me...and medication and IV math is not usually a problem for me...

trepin....read carefully....doesnt say "one liter" or times "one liter"...the only reference to "one liter" is the amount of K+ which is diluted in the NS.....hence the presumption of continuous fluid.....since the K+ is 20 mEq per LITER,

you multiply the 20 by the amount in liters, to get how much K+ is given over the 24 hours

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Feb 7, 2009

patient is on novolin 70/30 insulin. they receive 20 units sc bid. how many units of intermediate acting insulin do they receive per dose and how many units of short acting do they receive per dose?

.70 x 20 units = 14 units intermediate acting insulin

.30 x 20 units = 6 units short acting insulin

your patient iv is ns with 20 meq kcl per liter running at 150 ml/hr. what is the fluid intake for a 24-hours period? and, how much potassium is being recieved over a 24-hour period?

150 ml x 24 hours =

3600 ml

(amount of fluid being received in 24 hours)

20 meq/1000 = 0.02 meq kcl/ml. then, 0.02 meq x 3600 ml (amount of fluid being received in 24 hours) =

72 meq

(amount of kcl being received over a 24 hour period)

trepinCT · Feb 7, 2009

trepin....read carefully....doesnt say "one liter" or times "one liter"...the only reference to "one liter" is the amount of K+ which is diluted in the NS.....hence the presumption of continuous fluid.....since the K+ is 20 mEq per LITER,
you multiply the 20 by the amount in liters, to get how much K+ is given over the 24 hours

mea culpa mea culpa!! Thanks for setting that straight.. I went from thinking I knew it.. to being confused again!! LOL :bugeyes:

wondergirlhere · Feb 8, 2009

Thank you! Thank you!

I was able to get the same answers and complete the other calculations!

You ladies are the best.

I'm in Level 2 nursing school and I'm still trying to find my groove; trying to learn how to organize how I asess pts etc.

Thanks again!!

I will post again b/c I will probably have more nursing questions.

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Feb 8, 2009

I'm in Level 2 nursing school and I'm still trying to find my groove; trying to learn how to organize how I asess pts etc.

I seem to recall being at that same point at one time myself. You might be interested to know that after 30+ years I was still trying to learn the best way to organize and assess patients. It is a never-ending quest.