IV CALCULATION TO CALCULATE RATE USING MINUTES: volume x calibration minutes

= gtt/min

TO CALCULATE RATE USING HOURS: volume x calibration hours x 60

Whenever youre administering intravenous (IV) infusions, you need to know the flow rate, infusion time, and total volume. Fortunately, calculating any one of these three variables is easy to do when you know the other two variables. Use the following equations:
y y y

flow rate (mL/hr) = total volume (mL) infusion time (hr) infusion time (hr) = total volume (mL) flow rate (mL/hr) total volume (mL) = flow rate (mL/hr) infusion time (hr)

For example, if you must administer 1 L (1,000 mL) of fluid over 4 hours, use the first formula to calculate the flow rate, like so: flow rate (mL/hr) = total volume (mL) infusion time (hr) flow rate (mL/hr) = 1,000 4 flow rate (mL/hr) = 250 The flow rate is 250 mL/hr.

Unit Conversion
Mass:
y y y y

mcg mg g kg ( by 1,000 ) mcg mg g kg ( x by 1,000 ) lb kg ( by 2.2 ) lb kg ( x by 2.2 )

Volume:
y

mcL

mL

kL

( by 1,000 )

mcL

mL

kL

( x by 1,000 )

Time:
y y

min min

hr hr

( by 60 ) ( x by 60 )

Example: Convert 5,000 mcg to mg.

y y

mcg mg g kg ( by 1,000 ) 5,000 mcg 1,000 = 5 mg

Example: Convert 44 lb to kg.

y y

lb kg ( by 2.2 ) 44 lb 2.2 = 20 kg

Example: Convert 0.003 L to mcL.

y y y

mcL mL L kL ( x by 1,000 ) 0.003 L x 1,000 = 3 mL 3 mL x 1,000 = 3,000 mcL

Example: Convert 5 hours to minutes.

y y

min hr ( x by 60 ) 5 hr x 60 = 300 min

Mass/Liquid For Liquid Questions

Given an amount of mass per liquid, how much liquid do you require? Formula: Ordered x Volume Per Have = Y (Liquid Required) Have Example: Phenytoin (Dilantin), 0.1 g PO, is ordered to be given through a nasogastric tube. Phenytoin is available as 30 mg / 5 mL. How much would the nurse administer? Ordered x Volume Per Have = Y (Liquid Required) Have

Convert 0.1 g to mg.

y y

mcg mg g kg ( x by 1,000 ) 0.1 g x 1,000 = 100 mg

100 mg x 5 mL = 16.7 mL 30 mg Example: Ordered Lasix 40 mg IV push now. Available: 80 mg in 1 mL. How much will the nurse draw up? Ordered x Volume Per Have = Y (Liquid Required) Have 40 mg x 1 mL = 0.5 mL 80 mg The following is an overview of key IV concepts which are useful for dosage calculation problems.

Important IV Terms
y y y

gtts: drops Drop Factor: Number of drops per volume of IV fluid. Varies depending on the tubing used. Usually measured in gtts/mL. Flow Rate: Measure of the flow of liquid from an IV. Usually measured in gtts/minute (how many drops are released every minute) or in mL/hour (how many mL flow through each hour). gtts/minute is used for manually regulating an IV while mL/hour is used when utilizing an electronic IV regulator.

Important IV Abbreviations
y y y y y

D: Dextrose W: Water S: Saline NS: Normal Saline (0.9% NaCl) RL or LR: Lactated Ringer's

Example: D5W = 5% Dextrose in Water Example: D5 NS = 5% dextrose in 0.225% saline solution

Amount in IV Fluid Questions

Given a volume of IV fluid and a dosage expressed in percent, what is the mass of a particular dosage? Formula: Concentration % x Volume (mL) = Y (Dosage Amount in g) 100

Example: Calculate the amount of dextrose in 1000 mL D5W. Concentration % x Volume (mL) = Y (Dosage Amount in g) 100 5% x 1000 mL = 50 g 100

Example: Calculate the amount of sodium chloride in 2000 mL NS. Recall NS is 0.9% NaCl (sodium chloride) Concentration % x Volume (mL) = Y (Dosage Amount in g) 100 0.9% x 2000 mL = 18 g 100

Volume/Time - IV mL Rate Questions

Given a certain amount of liquid and a time period, what is the necessary IV flow rate in mL/hr? Measurement used when IV regulated electronically by infusion pump. Formula: Volume (mL) = Y (Flow Rate in mL/hr)

Time (hr) Example: Infuse 250 mL over the next 120 minutes by infusion pump. Volume (mL) = Y (Flow Rate in mL/hr) Time (hr) Convert 120 minutes to hours.
y y

min hr ( by 60 ) 120 min 60 = 2 hr

250 mL = 125 mL/hr 2 hr Example: Ordered 1000 mL D5W IV to infuse in 10 hours by infusion pump. Volume (mL) = Y (Flow Rate in mL/hr) Time (hr) 1000 mL = 100 mL/hr 10 hr

Volume/Time - IV Drop Rate Questions

Given a certain amount of liquid, a time period, and a drop factor (gtts/mL), what is the necessary IV flow rate in gtts/min? Measurement used when IV is regulated manually. Because it is not possible to give a patient a fraction of a drop, it is typical to round answers for these problems up or down to the nearest whole number. Formula: Volume (mL) x Drop Factor (gtts/mL) = Y (Flow Rate in gtts/min) Time (min) Example: Calculate the IV flow rate for 1200 mL of NS to be infused in 6 hours. The infusion set is calibrated for a drop factor of 15 gtts/mL. Volume (mL) x Drop Factor (gtts/mL) = Y (Flow Rate in gtts/min) Time (min) Convert 6 hours to minutes.
y y

min hr ( x by 60 ) 6 hr x 60 = 360 min

1200 mL x 15 gtts/mL = 50 gtts/min 360 min Example: Calculate the IV flow rate for 200 mL of 0.9% NaCl IV over 120 minutes. Infusion set has drop factor of 20 gtts/mL. Volume (mL) x Drop Factor (gtts/mL) = Y (Flow Rate in gtts/min) Time (min) 200 mL x 20 gtts/mL = 33 gtts/min 120 min

Fluid Maintenance Requirement Questions

Given the weight of a child or infant, calculate the necessary amount of fluid per day. Different hospitals may have different policies, but for learning how to perform these pediatric dosage calculations, the following commonly used table of fluid requirements may be used. Weight Range 0-10 kg 10-20 kg 20-70 kg Over 70 kg Required Daily Fluid 100 mL per kg 1,000 mL + 50 mL per each kg above 10 kg 1,500 mL + 20 mL per each kg above 20 kg 2,500 mL (adult requirement)

Example: An infant weighs 4 kg. What is the required amount of fluid per day in mL? 0-10 kg 100 mL per kg
y

4 kg x 100 mL/kg = 400 mL

Example: An infant weighs 30.8 lb. What is the required IV flow rate in mL/hr to maintain proper fluid levels? Convert 30.8 lb to kg.
y y

lb kg ( by 2.2 ) 30.8 lb 2.2 = 14 kg 1,000 mL + 50 mL per each kg above 10kg

10-20 kg
y y

14 kg - 10 kg = 4 kg (There are 4 kg over 10 kg). 1,000 mL + (50 mL/kg x 4 kg) = 1,200 mL/day

This is now an ordinary IV Flow Rate - mL Rate Question. The required volume is 1,200 mL and the time is one day. Volume (mL) = Y (Flow Rate in mL/hr) Time (hr) There are 24 hours in one day.
y

1 day x 24 = 24 hr

1,200 mL = 50 mL/hr 24 hr

Dosage By Weight Questions

Given the weight of a patient and a dosage specified in terms of weight, calculate the necessary dosage. These problems are a type of pediatric dosage calculations. Formula: Weight in Kg * Dosage Per Kg = Y (Required Dosage) Example: A doctor orders 200 mg of Rocephin to be taken by a 15.4 lb infant every 8 hours. The medication label shows that 75-150 mg/kg per day is the appropriate dosage range. Is this doctor's order within the desired range? Weight in Kg * Dosage Per Kg = Y (Required Dosage) Convert 15.4 lb to kg.
y y

lb kg ( by 2.2 ) 15.4 lb 2.2 = 7 kg

7 kg * 75 mg/kg = 525 mg (Minimum Desired Dosage) 7 kg * 150 mg/kg = 1,050 mg (Maximum Desired Dosage) 24 hours in one day and the medication is ordered every 8 hours.
y y y

24 hrs / 8 hrs = 3 times per day doctor ordered medication 200 * 3 = 600 mg ordered per day 600 mg is within the desired range of 525-1,050 mg

Yes doctor has ordered a dosage within the desired range. Example: Solumedrol 1.5 mg/kg is ordered for a child weighing 74.8 lb. Solumedrol is available as 125 mg / 2mL. How many mL must the nurse administer? Weight in Kg * Dosage Per Kg = Y (Required Dosage)

Convert 74.8 lb to kg.

y y

lb kg ( by 2.2 ) 74.8 lb 2.2 = 34 kg

34 kg * 1.5 mg/kg = 51 mg
y

This is now an ordinary Mass/Liquid For Liquid Question. 51 mg is ordered and the medication is available as 125 mg / 2 mL. Ordered x Volume Per Have = Y (Liquid Required) Have 51 mg x 2 mL = 0.82 mL 125 mg

Mass/Time - IV mL Rate Questions

Give an order in quantity of mass per time, determine the necessary IV flow rate in mL/hr based on the given mass per volume. These types of problems are often used in critical care nursing. Formula: Ordered Per Hour x Volume (mL) = Y (Flow Rate in mL/hr) Have Example: Give patient 500 mg of dopamine in 250 mL of D5W to infuse at 20 mg/hr. Calculate the flow rate in mL/hr. Ordered Per Hour x Volume (mL) = Y (Flow Rate in mL/hr) Have 20 mg/hr x 250 mL = 10 mL/hr 500 mg Example: Aggrastat at 12.5 mg in 250 mL is prescribed to be infused at a rate of 6 mcg/kg/hr in a patient who weighs 100 kg. At what flow rate in mL/hr will you set the pump? Ordered Per Hour x Volume (mL) = Y (Flow Rate in mL/hr) Have
y

The first step is to convert the order per time to the amount required for this particular patient. This is a Dosage By Weight Question. 100 kg is the weight in kg and 6 mcg/kg/hr is a dosage in terms of kg.

Weight in Kg * Dosage Per Kg = Y (Required Dosage) 100 kg * 6 mcg/kg/hr = 600 mcg/hr Convert 600 mcg/hr to mg/hr.
y y

mcg mg g kg ( by 1,000 ) 600 1,000 = 0.6 mg/hr

0.6 mg/hr x 250 mL = 12 mL/hr 12.5 mg