please help/explain how to work this problem

[Bigbear71]

would someone please help me with this problem?

The Dr. has ordered procainamide hydrochloride IV, titrated to control dysrhythmia at a rate of 1500 mcg per minute. The available vial contains 1000 mg per 2 ml. The Dr's order and manufacturer directions recommend that 1000 mg of the drug be added to 500ml of D5W. The infusion set is 60 drops per ml.

1.How many ml of procainamide should the nurse add to the 500 ml of D5W?

2. How many mg of drug are present in 1 ml of procainamide 1000 mg in 500 ml of D5W solution?

3. How many ml per minute must infuse to deliver the prescribed amount of drug?

4. How many mlk per hour should the electronic infusion device be set to deliver?

Thank you

[Finallyat40]

1.how many ml of procainamide should the nurse add to the 500 ml of d5w?okay, first off, you have a vial of 1000 mg of procainamide in 2 ml, the recommendation is to add 1000 mg to 500 ml of d5w, so you should add the entire 2 ml of med to the bag of fluid, giving you 500 ml of d5w with 1000 mg of procanamide

2. how many mg of drug are present in 1 ml of procainamide 1000 mg in 500 ml of d5w solution? you've got 500 ml of fluid with 1000 mg of med, therefore, each ml of fluid has 2mg of procainamide (which will be 2,000 mcg of med/ml)

3. how many ml per minute must infuse to deliver the prescribed amount of drug?

you are ordered to deliver 1,500 mcg/minute, therefore, you wil deliver 0.75 ml/minute (1,500 mcg/min divided by 2000 mcg/ml)

4. how many mlk per hour should the electronic infusion device be set to deliver? the electronic infusion device should be set to deliver 45 cc/hour. (0.75 x 60 min)

i so hope this is right.....i'm 99% sure it is, but ya never know. if not, then:trout:

jamie

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

3. how many ml per minute must infuse to deliver the prescribed amount of drug?

4. how many ml per hour should the electronic infusion device be set to deliver?

by dimensional analysis:

1500 mcg/1 minute

(dose ordered)

x 500 ml/1000 mg

(dose on hand)

x 1mg/1000 mcg

(conversion factor)

=

0.75 ml/1 minute

1500 mcg/1 minute

(dose ordered)

x 500 ml/1000 mg

(dose on hand)

x 1mg/1000 mcg

(conversion factor)

x 60 minutes/1 hour

(conversion factor)

=

45 ml/1 hour

(note: iv pumps are always programmed in mls per hour)

if you learn to work these kinds of problems by dimensional analysis which allows you to use your conversion factors and factor (cancel) out unwanted labels, you will be able to calculate these much easier. you can see samples of medication calculations done by dimensional analysis on this "sticky" thread in this forum:

• https://allnurses.com/forums/f205/dosage-calculations-88867.html - dosage calculations

[Bigbear71]

Thank you!