Pitocin administration

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Specializes in L & D, Postpartum, Home Health, Clinic.

Studying for certification for inpatient obstetrics and I know that they will ask about Pitocin. I know the generals about it and what we use for administration but I want to know where I can find like some different rates that are used. Using 10mu, 20mu, and 30mu in LR or D5LR. I know this might sound odd but I have heard about some of the questions on this exam and just a little nervous about it. Any help would be great!!:banghead:

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Specializes in Med surg, Critical Care, LTC.

I'm not a OB nurse, but I can tell you the "magic" formula for pitocen for a C-section. 5mg IVP intraop, followed by 20units in 1000 cc LR - by the time the patient gets to me in recovery, they've had 25 units and will need another 20 units in a bag of LR to run at 125ml/hr. So, that is a total of 45 units.

In labor, they go up in increments of 2 units per hour, to a maximum of 20 units per hour (I was there when my daughter was in labor and asked a lot of questions.

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