Pharm Question

Published

Physician ordered 500ml of d5/NS to run for 24 hours. The drop rate is 10 gtts/ml, How many ml/hr should infuse?

My answer is 625ml/hr but the professors answer comes out to 62.5ml/hr.

Is my math wrong or is this a mistake on the professors part. Please explain

Thanks!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Peds/Neo CCT,Flight, ER, Hem/Onc.

Show us your work and we'll show you where you went wrong.

BTW look at your answer. If you are giving 500ml in a 24 hour period how would running it at 625ml/hr be right?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Peds/Neo CCT,Flight, ER, Hem/Onc.

Actually, now that I look at it are you sure you posted the question correctly? Because neither of the answers is even close.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'm sorry my mistake its supposed to be 1500ml not 500ml. My math was 1500 times 10 divided by 24 and that gave me 625ml.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Your 10 is where you went wrong. That's a drip factor and extra info.

1500mL divided by 24 hours equals 62.5mL/hour. Nothing asks for drop rate

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Peds/Neo CCT,Flight, ER, Hem/Onc.

Don't overthink this. Most pharm math is simple math. Get rid of the distractors (information in the question intended to confuse) and go from there.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Peds/Neo CCT,Flight, ER, Hem/Onc.

JB your inbox is full

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Do you understand now? The drop factor was extra info not needed, aka a distractor. If you can, highlight the information in the problem you need to answer the question.

When you check your answers, your clue is 625mL/hr would infuse 1500mL in less than 3hrs not 24 hours. You were right to question the ten fold difference between your calculation and the instructor's answer.

By posting your thought process I could easily see why your answer was 10x greater than the accurate answer.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks everyone I see how I got the answer wrong!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Peds/Neo CCT,Flight, ER, Hem/Onc.
Thanks everyone I see how I got the answer wrong!

Okay let's check.

You have a patient who has an order for 1000ml in 8 hours. Your tubing has a drop factor of 60drops/ml. At what rate do you set the pump?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I see where I went wrong on the problem I posted. I didn't notice that the problem ask for what rate to set the pump. I answered the problem for gtts/min and the problem doesn't ask for that. The answer to the problem you posted is 1000 divided by 8 which gives you 125ml/hr. The drop factor can be ignored in his type of problem.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Peds/Neo CCT,Flight, ER, Hem/Onc.
I see where I went wrong on the problem I posted. I didn't notice that the problem ask for what rate to set the pump. I answered the problem for gtts/min and the problem doesn't ask for that. The answer to the problem you posted is 1000 divided by 8 which gives you 125ml/hr. The drop factor can be ignored in his type of problem.

Yay! You nailed it!!!:up:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion