Dosage Calculation Tutorial 1-3-08

N 285
Critical Care Dosage

Calculation Tutorial
Dosage Calculation Tutorial 1_3_08

THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH DAKOTA
Department of Nursing
CRITICAL DRIP CALCULATION TUTORIAL
This Critical Drip Calculation Test is an example of the types of IV and medication calculations for which
a critical care nurse would be responsible. Unless specified otherwise, ALL critical drips run on IV
pumps.
1. Order: Levophed 2 - 4 mcg/min to maintain systolic BP > 100 mm Hg. The solution
being titrated has 8 mg Levophed in 250 ml D5W. Calculate the flow rate in ml/hr for 2
mcg/min.
To solve this problem using dimensional analysis:
Identify what you are solving for – in this case ml/hr. This information will tell you how
to set up your equation. You must have ml on the top and hr on the bottom.
Find the data that will provide the necessary answer – look for data that is not necessary
in solving the problem. For example, in this problem it is not important that the order is
for 2 – 4 mcg/min because the IV is infusing at the rate of 2 mcg/min. I have identified
the important data with bold print above.
Set up your problem making sure that all the conversions are present by crossing off the
labels as you set them up. When you are finished with your conversions the only labels
you should have remaining are the ones for the solution.
250 ml X 1 mg X 2 mcg X 60 min = 30,000 = 3.75 ml

8 mg 1000 mcg 1 min 1hr 8,000 hr
You can see that the only labels not crossed out are those for ml and hr. Now, multiply
the bottom numbers together and put in your calculators memory. Then, multiply all the
top numbers together. Divide the top number by the bottom number and you will have
your answer. This answer of 3.75 ml/hr needs to be rounded up to 4 ml/hr.
To solve this problem using ratio and proportion:
The important thing to remember when doing ratio and proportion critical care
calculations is to clearly label the results of each step. Critical care equations require
three steps – one for each solution. Again, the key data is in bold print.
Concentration of the drug in the IV solution

Flow rate required to deliver the desired dose
Number of micrograms needed, based on the client’s weight in kilograms.

To calculate the drug’s concentration:
Concentration of drug in mg/ml = mg of drug

ml of fluid
if you need to express the concentration in mcg/ml, multiply by 1000
8 mg X mg
250 ml = 1 ml
X = 0.032 mg/ml x 1000
X = 32 mcg/ml
To calculate the IV flow rate per minute:
Dose/minute = concentration of solution

X ml/minute 1 ml of fluid
minute dose Concentration

X ml/ minute = 1 ml
2 mcg/min = 32 mcg
X ml 1 ml
X x 32 = 2x1
X = 2 / 32
X = 0.0625 ml/min
To calculate the hourly flow rate, multiply the minute dose, in mg or mcg per min, by 60
minutes for the hourly flow rate
X ml 0.0625 mcg
60 min = 1 min
Xx1 = 0.0625 mcg x 60
X = 3.8 ml/hr

2. Order: Inocor drip at 5 mcg/kg/min for a client weighing 227 lbs. The solution
concentration is 100 mg in 40 ml NS. Calculate the flow rate in ml/hr. Administer
___ml/hr. Round to the nearest tenth.
3. Order: Nitroprussride at 3 mcg/kg/min. The client weighs 60 kg. The solution

concentration is 100 mg in 250 ml D5W. Calculate the ml/hr. Administer____ml/hr.
4. Order: Dobutamine 2 mcg/kg/min. The solution concentration is 500 mg in 250 ml

D5W. The client weighs 73.2 kg. Calculate the ml/hr. Administer____ml/hr.
Round answer to the nearest tenth.
5. Order: Lidocaine 1 gm in 500 ml D5W at 30 ml/hr. Calculate the mg/hr and mg/min
this client will receive. Is this within the normal range of 1 – 4 mg/min?
Answer 1 - Administer ____mg/hr
Answer 2 – Set pump to administer ____ mg/min
Answer 3 – Is dose within a normal range? Yes or No.

6. Order: Isoproterenol 1 mg in 250 ml D5W to run at 35 ml/hr. What volume is infusing
per minute? _______ ml/min. Round answer to the nearest tenth.
7. Order: Heparin bolus 90 U/kg. The client weighs 179 lbs. How many units should this
client receive?
The Heparin vial on hand is labeled 2500 units/ml. How many ml should the nurse
administer?
Order: Follow the bolus with a heparin drip at the rate of 500 units/hr. The pharmacy
sent up Heparin 25,000 units in 500 ml D5W. Calculate the flow rate in ml/hr for the IV
pump.
Round answers to the nearest tenth.
Answer 1 - Administer _____ units.

Answer 2 - Administer _____ml.
Answer 3 - Set the pump to run ____ml/hr

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What are the steps to solve a dosage calculation problem using dimensional analysis?

What are the steps to solve a dosage calculation problem using dimensional analysis?

What are the steps to solve a dosage calculation problem using ratio and proportion?

What are the steps to solve a dosage calculation problem using ratio and proportion?

N 285

Critical Care Dosage

Dosage Calculation Tutorial 1_3_08

CRITICAL DRIP CALCULATION TUTORIAL

To solve this problem using dimensional analysis:

250 ml X 1 mg X 2 mcg X 60 min = 30,000 = 3.75 ml

To solve this problem using ratio and proportion:

Concentration of the drug in the IV solution

Dosage Calculation Tutorial 1_3_08

Concentration of drug in mg/ml = mg of drug

if you need to express the concentration in mcg/ml, multiply by 1000

X = 0.032 mg/ml x 1000

To calculate the IV flow rate per minute:

Dose/minute = concentration of solution

minute dose Concentration

Xx1 = 0.0625 mcg x 60

Dosage Calculation Tutorial 1_3_08

3. Order: Nitroprussride at 3 mcg/kg/min. The client weighs 60 kg. The solution

4. Order: Dobutamine 2 mcg/kg/min. The solution concentration is 500 mg in 250 ml

Dosage Calculation Tutorial 1_3_08

Answer 1 - Administer _____ units.

Dosage Calculation Tutorial 1_3_08

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