Help,Help! Reconstituting Powdered Med Calculation

CCL RN, RN · Feb 12, 2011

Where are you getting confused? What part of these questions is throwing you off?

ms_daisy · Feb 12, 2011

Ok, so I understand how to get the answer for the second part of the problem

D/H x V. I know I have to solve for x in the first part of the problem, I just don't know how to set up the proportion equation. I know that the diluent you add to the solution doesn't matter. I just need help with the first part of the problem. I know I am overthinking it, but I just dont know where to start. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

CCL RN, RN · Feb 12, 2011

Please help with this problem. I've searched the boards and I just can't find a problem similar to mine. I know I am over thinking it, but would like help in setting up the equation/solving.
The label says equivalent to 1gr Ticar
Directions for mixing: When reconstituted with 2 mL diluent, each vial contains 2.6 mL of solution. Therefore, each mL of solution contains __________ milligrams of Ticar?
Order: Ticar 750 mg. IM. How many mL should the nurse administer? __________ mL
The label says equvialent to 1 gr Cefotan
Directions for mixing: When reconstituted with 2.6 mL diluent, each vial contains 3 mL of solution. Therefore, each mL of solution contains __________ milligrams of Cefotan.
Order: Cefotan 0.5 g. IM. How many mL should the nurse administer? __________ mL
Please help, please please!

1. Well, you mixed 1g of ticar with enough fluid to make 1g in 2.6 mL. So now that you have a syringe with that in in, how do you give your dose of 750mg?

2. you mixed fluid and now have 1g cefotan in 3 mL. How much of the syringe do you give to give 0.5g?

Without doing any math, just picturing the syringe, you should be able to figure these both out easily, especially the second one.

Jonathank · Feb 12, 2011

Unless the orders are for elephants or a whales, I'm going to guess it should be 1 g (gram) not 1 gr (grain).

If there's only 1 grain in 2.6 mL of the reconstituted solution, you'd have to administer quite a lot of it to get 750 mg.

Bababooey · Feb 13, 2011

1. When you add the 2ml of diluent to the vial with 1 gram of powder, it will dissolve the powder and you will end up with 2.6ml of solution. The concentration of Ticar will be 1 gram/2.6 ml=0.384615 g/ml

Therefore, each mL of solution contains 385 milligrams of Ticar.

Order: Ticar 750 mg. IM.

Set up equation using dimensional analysis so units cancel.

750 mg x (1 ml/384.615 mg)= 1.95 ml

How many mL should the nurse administer? 1.95 mL

ms_daisy · Feb 13, 2011

Thank you so much Bababooey! That is what I came up with. I just needed to know I was on the right track before I continued. Thanks again.