Med Math - Calculating Bolus. HELP! :)

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Hi everyone!

I am stuck on a med math problem. Can anyone help?

Order: Administer a bolus of heparin sodium IV and begin the infusion per hospital protocol. The hospital protocol is 80 units/kg for the bolus and an initial infusion rate of 14 units/kg/hr. Client weighs 142 lbs.

1) Heparin bolus dosage (in units)_________

2) Heparin bolus dosage (in mL)__________

3) Initial infusion rate (in units/hr)_________

4) Initial infusion rate (in mL/hr)___________

I understand how to calculate the 1st one, but I am afraid I am just over thinking the other ones.

Any help is greatly appreciated!

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Specializes in 1st year Critical Care RN, not CCRN cert.

Can't figure out the ml/hr without knowing what size bag you are putting the heparin in.

Second answer is: 54213.598u/hr or 54214u/hr

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Specializes in Pedi.

You cannot figure out the dose or rate in mL without knowing the concentration. Heparin has many concentrations.

The answer to the last one is definitely not 54,000 units/hr. The client weighs 142 lbs... what is that in kg? You need to figure that out before you can get the answer to the problem.

14 units/kg/hr x weight in kg = ? units/hr.

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Specializes in 1st year Critical Care RN, not CCRN cert.

904u.

Multiplied 60 minutes. Didn't need to

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

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