need help again?

mRpeNa · May 29, 2009

DISREGARD, IDEAL ON A PUMP ...

CAN SOMEONE EXPLAIN THIS TO ME

the answer is this:

(step1)200ml/40mEq*10mEq/1=2000/40= 50ml

(step 2) 50ml*60gtt/60min= 50ml

WHY WOULDN'T I USE 200ML*60/60MIN=

morte, LPN, LVN · May 29, 2009

how do i know that this is a 2 part question?
The client's K+ is 2.0 mEq/dl and the physician orders a potassium bolus of 40 mEq of KCl in 200 ml of NS to be delivered at a rate of 10 mEq/hr. What is the drip rate in microdrops? (Ideal, deliver on a pump.)
thank you

because you need to answer one question before you can go on to the next....

40mEq/200 : 10 mEq/1= x .....now you need to determine the RATE

you want to deliver 50 ml/hour there are 60 gtts per ml so 50 gtts/min

Daytonite, BSN, RN · May 29, 2009

the client's k+ is 2.0 meq/dl and the physician orders a potassium bolus of 40 meq of kcl in 200 ml of ns to be delivered at a rate of 10 meq/hr. what is the drip rate in microdrops? (ideal, deliver on a pump.)

whatever this 2-part business is, i can see from several of the questions you have posted that it is confusing you. i work problems by first identifying the

dose desired

, the

dose on hand

and then solving for the

amount to give

. all problems, even the iv problems, can be solved this way. then i use dimensional analysis, or factor labeling, which merely means manipulating the terms of the equation that i set up to come out with an answer that contains the labels i want on the final answer which is often a fraction with a numerator and denominator. if you write these equations below out as fractions and cross out the labels (most of them factor out which is what i wanted to happen to them), you will see that what you have left after doing the math (multiplying all the numerators and then multiplying all the denominators)is the answer reduced to an nice even number and the labels i wanted to end up with. i also quickly checked the answers on my calculator using the old dose

desired divided by dose on hand multiplied by the amount the dose on hand comes in

formula and in 2 seconds had the answer.

for an answer in microdrops/minutes you must know that microdrop tubing delivers 60 drops/ml:

200 ml/40 meq

(dose on hand)

x 10 meq/1 hour

(dose desired)

x 1 hour/60 minutes

(conversion factor)

x 60 gtts/1 ml

(drop factor of iv tubing)

=

50 gtts/minute

for an answer for delivery on a pump you must know that a pump always delivers in ml/hour:

200 ml/40 meq

(dose on hand)

x 10 meq/1 hour

(dose desired) =

50 ml/hour

Daytonite, BSN, RN · May 29, 2009

DISREGARD, IDEAL ON A PUMP ...
CAN SOMEONE EXPLAIN THIS TO ME
the answer is this:
(step1)200ml/40mEq*10mEq/1=2000/40= 50ml
(step 2) 50ml*60gtt/60min= 50ml
WHY WOULDN'T I USE 200ML*60/60MIN=

Are these equations you are making up or are they coming from a workbook?

I would not solve the problem this way unless that is what your instructors want you to do. If this is something they want you to do, and even I don't understand it, I think you should call the school and ask for a tutor to explain it instead of hoping someone on allnurses knows how to figure it out.

mRpeNa · May 29, 2009

Sorry to bother you guys....i wont ask anymore questions, daytonite

Daytonite, BSN, RN · May 29, 2009

I not discouraging you from asking questions! I am saying that it is difficult to understand what it is you are asking. Is this coming from a workbook? Is this a specific way your instructors want you to work out the answers to these problems? Can you answer these questions I am asking? I am more than willing to help you out, but I am trying to get on the same wave length as you. Help me understand what it is you are doing because I'm having difficulty understanding what you are doing.

cursedandblessed · May 30, 2009

I think you're making it harder than it is. Your ultimate answer in this question is drops per minute. Micro gtt tubing is 60 gtt/mL

we use the means and extremes method.

40 meq: 200 mL = 10 meq : XmL

What you have what you want

(total amt) (amt in an hour)

1. Multiply your outer two numbers (extremes) 40X

2. Multiply your middle two numbers (means) 200 * 10= 2000

40X = 2000 now to find X (mL per hour) divide both sides by 40

40 40

X = 50 mL per hour

To find drops per minute formula is:

volume to be infused * drop factor

minutes to be infused

50 mL * 60 gtt per mL

60 minutes

equals 50 gtt/minute

admittedly there can be easier methods to do this, and some problems can be done in your head, but I've learned that I make fewer mistakes when I just do everything and write it all out. If my way seems too confusing just ignore me-only trying to help and get some practice at the same time.