Math problem confusion

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Piperacillin 2 gm IV q6h is ordered. Pharmacy sends a vail of pipercaillin, 1 gm in 5 ml. You are to mix 2 gm in 50 ml of Nacl and run over 30 minutes. You are using a macrodrip set (15 gtts?ml).

A. What drug dose is to be mixed in the Nacl?

B. What is the flow rate?

I did it but I dont think that it is right. I wish I knew how to email someone on here private so I could show you how I worked the problum out. I hate putting it on here for the whole world to see how dumb I am looking.

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Specializes in Almost everywhere.

I want to help you, but is some of the problem missing?

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Specializes in Nursing Home ,Dementia Care,Neurology..
Piperacillin 2 gm IV q6h is ordered. Pharmacy sends a vail of pipercaillin, 1 gm in 5 ml. You are to mix 2 gm in 50 ml of Nacl and run over 30 minutes. You are using a macrodrip set (15 gtts?ml).

A. What drug dose is to be mixed in the Nacl?

B. What is the flow rate?

I did it but I dont think that it is right. I wish I knew how to email someone on here private so I could show you how I worked the problum out. I hate putting it on here for the whole world to see how dumb I am looking.

You now have 15 posts on the Board.You should be able to use the PM and email functions.

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Specializes in Nursing Home ,Dementia Care,Neurology..

Try this calculator.

http://www.medical-calculators.co.uk/driprate.html

(noticed this is set at 20gtt/ml)

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Specializes in Almost everywhere.
You now have 15 posts on the Board.You should be able to use the PM and email functions.

So, if you are able to PM me and feel comfortable doing so, I would try my best to help you. You are not dumb, there are still dosage calcs that after about 20 years of nursing I still have to think about.

Thank you Nightmare, I don't know all of the quirks about PMing etc. Thanks for clarifying that for both of us.

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

OK.How about this.

You have 1 gram/5 ml of the med. You need 2 grams so you add 10 ml to the 50 ml of Nacl.

So now you have 60 ml right?

60 ml over 30 min is the same as 120 ml/hr.

15gtts/ml means a drop factor of 600 gtts/hr.

So if you ran it at 600 gtts/hr for 30 min you would have given 60 mls.

This the problem of having pumps. All my math has gone out of my head.

Anyone have input(have I done it wrong?) :bugeyes:

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Specializes in ICCU - cardiac.
OK.How about this.

You have 1 gram/5 ml of the med. You need 2 grams so you add 10 ml to the 50 ml of Nacl.

So now you have 60 ml right?

60 ml over 30 min is the same as 120 ml/hr.

15gtts/ml means a drop factor of 600 gtts/hr.

So if you ran it at 600 gtts/hr for 30 min you would have given 60 mls.

This the problem of having pumps. All my math has gone out of my head.

Anyone have input(have I done it wrong?) :bugeyes:

1gm/5ml : 2gm/xml

1x= 5x2

x= 10

60ml (10 ml + 50ml) x 15 gtt/30 min = 30ml/h

Is this correct?

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

60ml (10 ml + 50ml) x 15 gtt/30 min = 30ml/h

Is this correct?

no, I don't think so.

60 ml over 30 min would be equivalent to 120ml/hr

if it is 15gtts/ml then 120 ml would be 600gtts/hr

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

Note to OP: it is spelled "problem" not "problum"

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Specializes in Almost everywhere.
1gm/5ml : 2gm/xml

1x= 5x2

x= 10

60ml (10 ml + 50ml) x 15 gtt/30 min = 30ml/h

Is this correct?

That is what I came up with sort of...

60x15gtt/30min=30gtt/min or 120mL/hr

Oh, and I agree with what you got on the first part or the 10mL part.

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Specializes in Almost everywhere.
Note to OP: it is spelled "problem" not "problum"

I think we are allowed a little spelling boo-boo or typo every now and then.

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Specializes in being a Credible Source.
Piperacillin 2 gm IV q6h is ordered. Pharmacy sends a vail of pipercaillin, 1 gm in 5 ml. You are to mix 2 gm in 50 ml of Nacl and run over 30 minutes. You are using a macrodrip set (15 gtts?ml).

A. What drug dose is to be mixed in the Nacl?

B. What is the flow rate?

I did it but I dont think that it is right. I wish I knew how to email someone on here private so I could show you how I worked the problum out. I hate putting it on here for the whole world to see how dumb I am looking.

Don't worry about "looking dumb." Dumb would be the person who just blindly went forward without asking for help. In fact, that's the very root of the word dumb... to be mute... that is, not to speak up.

The very fact that you're asking the question means that you're not dumb...

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