Here i am once again. i do not understand the drip factor stuff. I have an order of Aminophylline 1gm in 500 cc d5w to infuse at 0.5mg/kg/hr for a pt weighing 154.
The first question is what is the hourly amt the pt is to receive i got 35 mg/hr
Second, how many gtt/min should the IV run if the drop factor is 60gtt/ml.
I set it up this way and have gotten an off the wall 8.3
500ml/x = 60gtt/1ml ...that cross multiplies to 500=60x divide 500/60...and i got 8.3.
And that's why I use formulas instead of trying to reason my way through a problem :)
Butyou have to use the right formula! What's wrong with reasoning through a problem?
One of the things that I have found that helped (besides the great assistance from Daytonite!) is that when I am looking at a calculation program, I will write down the info given, what you are trying to find AND any conversion factors.
If I am looking for a flow rate of drips/min...I will immediately place that to the right of my equals sign ( ...... = gtt/min). Then I will look for the info given and the first thing I will look for is the gtt/ml and that is the first thing I will write on the left (gtt/ml + .... = gtt/min). I'll then look at the other information given and put it in so that by doing dimensional analysis, I'll find myself with my final answer being gtt/min.
If I can't cross off everything but that, I know that I made some error in setting up the problem.
I have to say that the best thing I learned in chemistry was the use of dimensional analysis and the use of conversion factors.
i posted all the weblinks i have to math and medication calculation practice problems on post #3 of the thread. you can also see lots of different problems that have been worked out on this sticky which is on this forum
Butyou have to use the right formula! What's wrong with reasoning through a problem?
There's nothing wrong with reasoning through a problem.
I just have a preference for formulas as I have an easier time remembering them and such.
AND, in case you are getting at what I think you are getting at...I view the "reasoning" of chosing the right formula for a problem as different from reasoning *your way through* a problem.
There's nothing wrong with reasoning through a problem.
I just have a preference for formulas as I have an easier time remembering them and such.
AND, in case you are getting at what I think you are getting at...I view the "reasoning" of chosing the right formula for a problem as different from reasoning *your way through* a problem.
Yes, but if you don't have the right formula, it won't help much. I don't know what you think I'm getting at...but that was a comment made in general, not towards you. It's just something that I found that helps me put everything in the right position. Maybe it will help someone else.
Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.
If you're using dimensional analysis there is really only one formula to be concerned with:
dose desired divided by dose on hand to give you the dose you want to give
You only want to make sure you have the dose desired and/or dose on hand term in your calculation (if that is what is called for). Everything else in the formula is a conversion factor, including the drip factor of any IV tubing, and put into the resulting formula designed to give you an answer with the correct labels on the numerator and denominator of the final answer. How much easier can you get?
:o
SarasotaRN2b
1,164 Posts
Butyou have to use the right formula! What's wrong with reasoning through a problem?
One of the things that I have found that helped (besides the great assistance from Daytonite!) is that when I am looking at a calculation program, I will write down the info given, what you are trying to find AND any conversion factors.
If I am looking for a flow rate of drips/min...I will immediately place that to the right of my equals sign ( ...... = gtt/min). Then I will look for the info given and the first thing I will look for is the gtt/ml and that is the first thing I will write on the left (gtt/ml + .... = gtt/min). I'll then look at the other information given and put it in so that by doing dimensional analysis, I'll find myself with my final answer being gtt/min.
If I can't cross off everything but that, I know that I made some error in setting up the problem.
I have to say that the best thing I learned in chemistry was the use of dimensional analysis and the use of conversion factors.
Kris