Help in Drug Calculation

plasmatix · Jul 28, 2011

Joijes, I understand how you might forget this if you've been away from it for awhile. I don't think I'd be doing you any favors by giving you the answers to the problems, but I've included some links to online sources of help. They are not super-detailed, so you shouldn't have to dig too deeply to find what you need.

http://www.dosagehelp.com/

The sections labeled "Mass/Liquid For Liquid" and "Amount in IV Fluid" have the exact formulas and explanations for the problems you are attempting.

http://www.siue.edu/nursing/slchs/.../drug_calculation_tutorial_091407.pdf

Given the importance of the subject matter, it would probably be a good idea for you to do an online tutorial on drug calculations. The above link is a good, overall review of drug calculation basics for nursing. Since you've studied this before, all of it should come back quickly.

Here is a good site for testing yourself (http://www.unc.edu/~bangel/quiz/quiz5.htm). They show you how they solved all the problems, too.

Good luck!!

brandy1017, ASN, RN · Jul 28, 2011

I was going to suggest is there a supplemental "solutions" manual. I bought one myself for College Algebra years ago and it made all the difference.

Before I could waste hours on one problem and still not get the right answer, but once I saw the correct way to set up and reach the answer my eyes were opened and with practice I mastered it. I got an A or A-. Wouldn't have done well without the solutions manual. It was a lifesaver!

Once you know how to do the problem then its just practice, practice, practice. Just like playing the piano, typing or riding a bike. Practice makes perfect!

Silverdragon102, BSN · Jul 28, 2011

Also check out the student section, there are several threads discussing maths

Joijes · Jul 28, 2011

Thank you very much for all your inputs. Have a lovely day everyone. Thanks again.

LadyinScrubs, ASN, RN · Jul 30, 2011

hello. i've been out of practice for quite some time and i need to go through some drug calculation for my certification. i have been struggling with the following drug calculation problems. if you could please help me solve them, it would highly be appreciated.. thank you very much
1.you have a 1:8000 solution in a 5 ml vial.
how many milligrams does the 5 ml vial contain?
2.calcium chloride is available in a 10% solution. what volume of solution must be given to administer a dose of 800 mg?
3. you are asked to give glucose 20 grams iv. you have a bag of glucose 5%. what volume are you going to infuse?
nb: 1% = 1g in 100 ml
4. you have a 10% solution in a 50 ml bag.
how many milligrams does the 50 ml bag contain?
please do help me. am desperate.

http://www.manuelsweb.com/solutions1.htm [there are other examples on the website]

prepare a 1% solution of brevital (500 mg of powder in bottle). how many ml of sterile water will you use?

answer: first convert 1% solution to mg/ml. a 1% solution is the same as 1000 milligrams in 100 cc or 10mg/cc.

percent solutions all are 1000mg/100ml. for example a 2% = 20mg/ml, 5% = 50mg/ml, 5.5% = 55mg/ml, etc...

now you have all the information needed to use the iv dosage calculator. this problem is the same as the doctor ordering a 500 mg iv bag of brevital: 500 mg = dose ordered, 10mg = dose available, and 1ml = ml available (the last two values come from 10mg/ml obtained above). the answer is 50ml.