math help

[ljbutler]

Need help with this problem:

Order reads: Ancef 1 gram in 50 mL IV piggyback give over 30 minutes.

What rate (mL/hr) should be set on the infusion pump to deliver the correct amount?

Thanks for any/all input!!!

[CABG patch kid, BSN, RN]

Don't make it more difficult than it is, if you refer to your med math book, find the calculation method you prefer (if your school teaches different methods) and plug in the numbers. Med math calculations are done by setting up ratios or fractions to find the missing value, like algebra.

The most basic thing to remember with med math is that you are often converting between units (in this case, convert hours to minutes in the set-up, other times it will be mg to mcg, etc.) A lot of times if you just convert them before you start the problem, you will instantly see the answer.

If you are giving something over 30 minutes, how much would you give over 60 minutes? It would be double the amount, correct?

Hope that helps and makes sense :)

I'm not the best at math either, but we have it fairly simple compared to professions that use physics and calculus!

[CABG patch kid, BSN, RN]

I wanted to add (since I am a person with math problems:lol2:) I prefer the ratio method, it just makes the most sense to me. For example:

I want to give 200ml of normal saline over 90 minutes. What will my rate be? I know there are 60 minutes in one hour....

200ml:90min :: Xml:60min

(the first part is the what I want to give, the second part represents the rate).

Multiply inner and outer

90X :: 12000

Solve for X

12000/90=X

X=133.3333 (just round to 133)

So my rate is 133ml/hr to give 200ml over 90 minutes (this is not an unusual thing for antibotics by the way).

I hope my method helps, I tried other ways and this one always works best for me. You just have to try different methods and see which one works best for you!

[agldragonRN]

need help with this problem:

order reads: ancef 1 gram in 50 ml iv piggyback give over 30 minutes.

what rate (ml/hr) should be set on the infusion pump to deliver the correct amount?

thanks for any/all input!!!

ignore the 1 gram statement. that's a distractor.

second, whenever you use a pump, you have to multiply your equation by 60 mins (equal to one hour, since your pump is asking for the hourly rate)

okay here is the equation,

=

50 ml__ x 60 mins

30 mins

=

50 ml x 2 mins (i reduced the 30 and 60)

1 min

= 100 ml / hr (set the infusion pump to this)

[EnviroVeg]

This is an IV flow rate calculation. Use the following formula:

Volume(mL) / Time (hr) = Flow Rate (mL/hr)

Convert 30 min to hrs:

30/60 = 0.5 hrs

Plug into formula:

50 mL / 0.5 hrs = 100 mL/hr

For more information about iv flow rate calculations and to see other example problems, see: http://www.dosagehelp.com/iv_rate_ml.html

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

Order reads: Ancef 1 gram in 50 mL IV piggyback give over 30 minutes. What rate (mL/hr) should be set on the infusion pump to deliver the correct amount?

Dose desired: 50 mL/30 minutes

Conversion factor: 1 hour = 60 minutes

You need to know that all infusion pumps are programmed to deliver in mL/hour.

50 mL/30 minutes (dose desired) x 60 minutes/1 hour (conversion factor) = 100 mL/hour (rate to set the pump at)