IVs - from paper to pump? taking calcs and applying to pumps

[lcregnrs]

Ok, this may be a really stuuuppidd question, but here goes.

I can do IV calculations all day, but when it comes to programming an IV pump, how do you know what numbers to punch in? What the orders say and my IV med book says isn't what is programmed into the pump. My CI asks me, and I give her what the IV book says but then what is programmed into the pump is different?? HELP

LDC

[iluvivt, BSN, RN]

You need to be more specific. so we can help. On every large volume parentral and this includes drips and other intermittents ...you will need to ultimately get to how many mls will you be administering per a certain time frame.So you can calculate the drip rate all day long but you will still need to program the pump per the order prescribed. So if you have a liter do D5 1/2 NS to be infused over 8 hours what rate do you need to set the pump at in ml per hour.? Try this one....You have Heparin 25,000 units in 250 ml D5W,the order is to give 800 units per hour..the answer needs to be in ml per hour to set the pump at? OK try this one Aminopylline 250 mg in 250 ml D5W and you want to administer 65 mg per hour..what should you set the pump at in ml per hour? Try this... you have a Vancomycin one gram in 125 ml and you want to run it over one hour...what will you set the pump at in ml per hour? Again clarify what is exactly happening and where you are getting tripped up so we can be more specific with help.

[libran1984, ASN, RN]

Most pumps have a list of a few hundred meds and dosages. Select your Medicine from the IV pump drop down menu. Select the medication concentration. Press start.

Good Job. You can work and IV pump.

(I was extremely intimidated at first and completely overthought it, but eventually it was like.... oh snap! This is easy. Nursing school makes everything seem so much harder than it is in real life.)

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

Not all pumps are smart pumps that have dose mode on them.....you do need to be more specific about the pumps. Most pumps use 60gtt tubing so your answer would be to use 60gtt tubing then your answer is the rate. If your conversion is not using 60gtt tubing...then you need to convert your answer to 60gtt tubing.

[loriangel14, RN]

You need to know how to program that particular pump. You don't need to know the drop rate on ours. You just enter the volume and how fast you want it to run and press start.