Medication Calculation

Review

Problem

Keflin 1 g in 50 mL normal saline IVPB administered over 1 hour. The

tubing drop factor is 60 gtt/mL. Calculate how many gtt/min

Formula: Volume/time (minutes) x drop factor (gtt/mL) = IV flow rate

(gtt/min) time (minutes)

Answer

50 mL x 60 gtt = 50 gtt/min

_____________

60 min

Problem

Physician order 500 mL of D5 NS over 4 hours. The IV pump should

be set to deliver how many mL/hr?

Formula: volume (mL)/time (minutes) x 60 min/1 hour = IV Flow Rate

(ml/hr)

Answer

500 mL

60

_______________

240 min

1 hour

= 125 mL/hr

Problem

Zantac 50 mg in 200 mL normal saline IVPB administered over 15

minutes. The tubing drop factor is 15 gtt/mL. Calculate how many
gtt/min should be delivered per manual control.

Formula: Volume (mL)

(gtt/min)

___________________

Time (min)

drop factor (gtt/mL) = IV flow rate

Answer

200 mL x 15 gtt/min

___________________

15

= 200 gtt/min

Problem

The primary care physician orders kanamycin (Kantrex) IV to be given

over 45 minutes. The medication is mixed in 100 mL of normal saline.
The IV pump should be set to deliver how many mL/hr?

Formula: Vloume (ml)

___________________

Time (min)

60 min

_______
1 hour

= IV flow rate (mL/hr)

Answer

100 mL

60

________________

45 min

1 hour

6000
______
45

= 133mL/hr

Problem

Physician orders 1 L of NS over 8 hours. The tubing drop factor is 20

gtt/mL. The IV pump should be set to deliver how many mL/hr?

Formula: volume (mL)

___________
time (min)

drop factor (gtt/mL) = IV flow rate

__________________

Answer

1000 mL

________

480 min

20 gtt/min

= 20,000
______
480 min

= 41.7

Problem

The physician has erythromycin 50 mg/kg/day P.O. every 6 hours. The

child weighs 64 lb. The nurse has available erythromycin suspension
200 mg/5 mL. How many milliliters of medicine will the nurse give for
each dose? Round to the nearest whole number.

Answer

64/2.2=29.0909090909 x 50=1454.545454

1454.5454/200*5=36.363636

36.36363636/4=9.09=9 mL

Problem

The nurse is to administer cyanocobalamin 800 mcg, I.M. daily x 5 days.

The label of the medication states: cyanocobalamin 2400 mcg/2mL.
How many mL would the nurse give at the evening dose? Round to the
tenths place.

Answer

800/2400 x 2=0.66667

0.7 mL

Problem

The patient has an order for heparin 25,000 units in 250 mL of 0.45%
normal saline. The patient is to receive 2,400units/hr. How many mLs of
heparin will the patient receive over one hour?

Answer

25000/250 x 2400/x=24mL/hr

Problem

An order reads, Neupogen 5 mcg/kg/day IV once daily. Patient weight: 73

kg. How many micrograms will you give?

Answer

73*5=365 mcg

Problem

The order is for Renagel tablets 600 mg PO. The medication on hand is
Renagel 400 mg tablets. How many tablets will the client receive?

Answer

600/400 x 1= 1.5 tabs

Problem

An order reads, filgrastim 7 mcg/kg/day IV once daily. Client weight: 110

pounds. How many micrograms will the nurse administer?

Answer

110 pounds/2.2 kg = 50 kg *7 mcg= 350mcg

Problem

The physician has ordered 250 mg of a liquid medication by mouth. The

pharmacy supplies 1 gram in a 2 ounce bottle. How many teaspoons
will the nurse administer?

Answer

250 mg/1000mg * 2 ounces=

0.5 ounces = 15 mL or 3 tsp

Problem

The physician ordered ceftriaxone 2gm IV now. The pharmacy supplies

500mg/ml vial. How many ml will the nurse administer per dose?

Answer

2000mg /500 mg x 1mL= 4 mL

Problem

The physician orders digoxin elixir 0.125 mg P.O. daily for a client. From
the hospital pharmacy, the nurse receives digoxin elixir 250 mcg/2mL.
How many milliliters will the nurse give to the client?

Answer

0.125 mg/0 .250 mg * 2 mL = 1 mL

Problem

A patient intake for the day included 10 ounces of juice, 11 ounces of

water, and 9 ounces of milk. How many milliliters were consumed by
the patient that day?

Answer

1 oz = 30ml

900 mL

Problem

A childs medication order is for amoxicillin 2.5 mL. How many

teaspoons should you advise the parent to give the child?

Answer

Teaspoon = 5mL

0.5 tsp