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    Drug Dosage and IV Rates Calculations PDF

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    varma
    This document provides information and examples on calculating drug dosages and intravenous (IV) drip rates. It discusses formulas for calculating drug dosages based on the amount ordered, available, and administered. Examples are provided for calculating tablet amounts, liquid volumes, and dosages based on body weight. The document also outlines formulas and examples for calculating IV drip rates based on volume, time, and drop factor as well as infusion pump flow rates based on volume and time.

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    Drug Dosage and IV Rates Calculations PDF

    Uploaded by

    varma
    1K views6 pages
    This document provides information and examples on calculating drug dosages and intravenous (IV) drip rates. It discusses formulas for calculating drug dosages based on the amount ordered, available, and administered. Examples are provided for calculating tablet amounts, liquid volumes, and dosages based on body weight. The document also outlines formulas and examples for calculating IV drip rates based on volume, time, and drop factor as well as infusion pump flow rates based on volume and time.

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    This document provides information and examples on calculating drug dosages and intravenous (IV) drip rates. It discusses formulas for calculating drug dosages based on the amount ordered, available, and administered. Examples are provided for calculating tablet amounts, liquid volumes, and dosages based on body weight. The document also outlines formulas and examples for calculating IV drip rates based on volume, time, and drop factor as well as infusion pump flow rates based on volume and time.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    1K views6 pages

    Drug Dosage and IV Rates Calculations PDF

    Uploaded by

    varma
    This document provides information and examples on calculating drug dosages and intravenous (IV) drip rates. It discusses formulas for calculating drug dosages based on the amount ordered, available, and administered. Examples are provided for calculating tablet amounts, liquid volumes, and dosages based on body weight. The document also outlines formulas and examples for calculating IV drip rates based on volume, time, and drop factor as well as infusion pump flow rates based on volume and time.

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    Drug Dosage & IV Rates Calculations

    Drug Dosage Calculations

    Drug dosage calculations are required when the amount of medication ordered (or
    desired) is different from what is available on hand for the nurse to administer.

    Formula:
    Amount DESIRED (D)
    X QUANTITY (Q) = Y (Tablets Required)
    Amount on HAND (H)

    Note: When medication is given in tablets, the QUANTITY = 1 since the amount of
    medication available is specified per (one) tablet.

    Example 1: Toprol XL, 50 mg PO, is ordered. Toprol XL is available as 100 mg per


    tablets. How many tablets would the nurse administer?

    Step 1: Determine your givens. Amount desired (D) = 50 mg


    Amount on hand (H) = 100 mg tablets
    Quantity = 1
    Step 2: Plug in what you know into the
    formula and simplify. x 1 = 0.5 tablets

    Therefore, the nurse would administer 0.5 of a tablet.

    Example 2: 1200 mg of Klor-Con is ordered. This medication is only available as 600


    mg per tablet. How many tablets should the nurse give?

    Step 1: Determine your givens. Amount desired (D) = 1200 mg


    Amount on hand (H) = 600 mg
    Quantity = 1
    Step 2: Plug in what you know into the
    formula and simplify. x 1 = 2 tablets

    Therefore, the nurse should give 2 tablets.

    The same formula can be used for dosage calculations where the medication is
    available as amount per certain volume.

    In these types of calculations, the volume available on hand is the QUANTITY.

    Tutoring and Learning Centre, George Brown College 2014 www.georgebrown.ca/tlc


    Example 3: Dilantin-125 is available as 125 mg/5 mL. Dilantin-125, 0.3 g PO, is
    ordered. How much should the nurse administer to the patient?

    Step 1: Determine your givens. Amount desired (D) = 0.3 g


    Amount on hand (H) = 125 mg
    Quantity = 5 mL
    Step 2: Convert 0.3 g to mg (since the
    ordered dose is in grams but the drug is 0.3 g x 1,000 mg/g = 300 mg
    available on hand in milligrams).

    Step 3: Plug in what you know into the


    formula and simplify. x 5mL = 12 mL

    Therefore, the nurse would administer 12 mL.

    Example 4: Furosemide is available as 40 mg in 1 mL. 10 mg is ordered to be


    administered through an IV. What amount of furosemide should the nurse administer?

    Step 1: Determine your givens. Amount desired (D) = 10 mg


    Amount on hand (H) = 40 mg
    Quantity = 1 mL
    Step 2: Plug in what you know into the
    formula and simplify. x 1mL = 0.4 mL

    Therefore, the nurse should administer 0.4 mL of furosemide.

    Dosage Calculations based on Body Weight

    Dosage calculations based on body weight are required when the dosage ordered and
    administered is dependent on the weight of the patient. For example, many pediatric
    drugs are ordered and given per weight (usually in kg).
    Dosage calculations based on body weight are calculated in two main stages.

    Stage 1: Using the formula below, calculate the total required dosage based on given
    the body weight.

    Weight (kg) x Dosage Ordered (per kg) = Y (Required Dosage)

    Stage 2: Apply the x Q formula to calculate the actual amount of medication to be


    administered.

    Tutoring and Learning Centre, George Brown College 2014 www.georgebrown.ca/tlc


    Example 1: Medrol 4 mg/kg is ordered for a child weighing 64.8 lb. Medrol is available
    as 500 mg/4mL. How many milliliters of medication must the nurse administer?

    Step 1: Determine your Weight: 64.8 lb


    givens. Dosage ordered: 4mg/kg
    Available on hand: 500 mg/4mL
    Step 2: Convert 64.5 lb to 64.8 lb ÷ 2.2 lb/kg = 29.45 kg
    kg since the infant’s weight
    is given in pounds (lb) but Therefore, the infant’s weight is 29.45 kg.
    the dosage ordered is in mg
    per kilogram.
    Step 3: Calculate the Weight (kg) x Dosage Ordered (per kg) =
    required dosage (mg) of Y (Required dosage)
    medication based on the
    child’s weight. 29.45 kg x 4 mg/kg = 117.8 mg

    Therefore, the required dosage of medication is 58.64


    mg.
    Step 4: Calculate the
    volume of medication (mL) x Quantity = Y
    to be administered based on
    what’s available on hand.
    x 4 mL = 0.942 mL

    Therefore, the nurse must administer 0.942 mL of medication.

    Example 2: A doctor prescribes 250 mg of Ceftin to be taken by a 20.5 lb infant every 8


    hours. The medication label indicates that 75-150 mg/kg per day is the desired dosage
    range. Is this doctor's order within the desired range?

    Step 1: Determine your Weight: 20.5 lb


    givens. Dosage ordered: 250 mg
    Desired dosage range: 75-150 mg/kg

    Step 2: Convert 20.5 lb to 20.5 lb ÷ 2.2 lb+/kg = 9.32 kg


    kg since the infant’s weight
    is given in pounds (lb) but
    the medication label is in mg
    per kilogram.

    Tutoring and Learning Centre, George Brown College 2014 www.georgebrown.ca/tlc


    Step 3: Calculate the Weight (kg) x Dosage Ordered (per kg) = Y
    minimum and maximum
    dosage for a 9.32 kg infant. Minimum dosage:
    9.32 kg x 75 mg/kg = 699 mg

    Maximum dosage:
    9.32 kg x 150 mg/kg = 1398 mg
    Step 4: Calculate the 24 hr ÷ 8 hr = 3
    amount of medication the The doctor has ordered the medication to be given 3
    doctor has ordered for one times per day.
    day or 24 hours.
    Every dose is 250 mg.
    250 mg x 3 = 750 mg

    Therefore, the doctor has ordered 750 mg of medication


    per day.
    Step 5: Compare the total 750 mg is within the desired range of 699-1398 mg since
    amount of medication 699 < 750 < 1398
    ordered for one day to the Therefore, the doctor has ordered a dosage within the
    dosage range listed on the desired range.
    medication label.

    Calculation of Intravenous Drip Rates


    In these types of calculations, for a given volume, time period, and drop factor (gtts/mL),
    the required IV flow rate in drops per minute (gtts/min) is calculated.

    Note: Since a fraction of a drop is not possible to give to a patient, it is usual to round
    the answers to the nearest whole number.

    Formula:
    Volume (mL)
    x Drop Factor (gtts/mL) = Y (Flow Rate in gtts/min)
    Time (min)

    Example 1: Calculate the IV flow rate for 250 mL of 0.5% dextrose to be administered
    over 180 minutes. The infusion set has drop factor of 30 gtts/mL.

    Step 1: Determine your givens. Volume: 250 mL


    Time: 180 min

    Tutoring and Learning Centre, George Brown College 2014 www.georgebrown.ca/tlc


    Drop factor: 30 gtts/mL
    Step 2: Use the formula to
    calculate the IV flow rate. No unit ( )
    conversions are required.
    Remember to round the final
    answer to the nearest whole
    number. ( )

    Therefore, the IV flow rate is 42 gtts/min.

    Example 2: The infusion set is adjusted for a drop factor of 15 gtts/mL. Calculate the IV
    flow rate if 1500 mL IV saline is ordered to be infused over 12 hours.

    Step 1: Determine your givens. Volume: 1500 mL


    Time: 12 hours
    Drop factor: 15 gtts/mL
    Step 2: Convert 8 hours into 12 h x 60 min/h = 720 min
    minutes.
    Step 3: Use the formula to
    calculate the IV flow rate ( )
    (gtts/min).

    ( )

    Therefore, the IV flow rate is 31 gtts/min.

    Calculation of Flow Rate for an Infusion Pump

    Infusion pumps do not have a calibrated drop factor. The flow rate depends on the

    volume of fluid ordered and the time of infusion.

    Formula:
    Volume (mL)
    = Y (Flow Rate in mL/h)
    Time (h)

    Example 1: 1200 mL D5W IV is ordered to infuse in 10 hours by infusion pump.


    Calculate the flow rate in milliliters per hour.

    Step 1: Determine your givens. Volume: 1200 mL


    Time: 10 h

    Tutoring and Learning Centre, George Brown College 2014 www.georgebrown.ca/tlc


    Step 2: Since the volume is given in mL
    and the time is given in hours, the flow
    rate can be calculated in one step using
    the formula.
    Step 3: Use the formula to calculate the
    IV flow rate (gtts/min).

    Therefore, the IV flow rate is 120 mL/hr.

    Example 2: 600 mL of antibiotic is to be infused over the 180 minutes by an infusion


    pump. Calculate the flow rate (mL per hour).

    Step 1: Determine your givens. Volume: 600 mL


    Time: 180 min
    Step 2: Convert 180 min into hours since 180 min ÷ 60 min/h = 3 h
    the flow rate must be stated in mL/h.

    Step 3: Calculate the flow rate in mL/h


    using the formula.

    Therefore, the flow rate is 200 mL/h.

    Tutoring and Learning Centre, George Brown College 2014 www.georgebrown.ca/tlc

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