med. calculations

Heather333 · Mar 17, 2003

How do you mix your flushes?

Heather

premern · Mar 17, 2003

Hi thanks for writing back. Our regular Heparin flushes are pre mixed by our pharmacy.

Heather333 · Mar 17, 2003

What kind of trouble are you having?

Heather

dawngloves, BSN, RN · Mar 17, 2003

Are you wondering how much flush to use for those particular lines?

premern · Mar 17, 2003

Hello I think it is more the figuring how to set up the calculation to figure it. It is my dose divided by what I have on hand correct? Sometimes this just stumps me. I just feel like I am so stupid down there but so comfortable in the level 2 nursery? Thanks for the replies. Racquel

NICU_Nurse, BSN, RN · Mar 17, 2003

This is how I learned it:

Dose ordered (5mg)

--------------------------------- x volume on hand (1ml)

Dose on hand (25mg vial)

In this example, your answer would be 0.20 ml and this is how much you would draw up. Is that what you meant?

And stop feeling stupid!!! That's what cheat sheets and calculators are for. You'll learn it, but it takes time and repetition. ;>)

premern · Mar 17, 2003

Thank you I will write this calculation down!!!!

webbiedebbie · Mar 18, 2003

I'm finding these are helpful...

http://www.accd.edu/sac/nursing/math/showme.html

http://pharmacy.uams.edu/calculation_of_intravenous_infus.html

There's a few more sites out there to help.

EXOTIC NURSE, RN · Mar 18, 2003

If I am not mistaken......our institution use saline to flush the UAC and UVC lines because normally we have .9NS or whatever fluid the doctor has ordered running with 1:1

heparin continuously running at 1cc/hr. If we draw blood from either line we basically flush it with saline until the line is cleared and that is it.

nurseiam · Mar 19, 2003

I tend to flush with whatever is running through the UAC. If it is 1/2 NS or 1/3 NS I make my flushes the same. It also depends on the babies NA+.

Heather333 · Mar 20, 2003

We flush our UAC/UVC's with 1/4NS w/ 1 unit heparin/cc.

Heather