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    Drug Calculations II

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    ms_lezah
    The document provides formulas and instructions for calculating drug infusion rates for medications administered via intravenous pumps. It includes formulas for calculating dosages in mcg/kg/min, mcg/min, mg/min, and mg/h depending on whether the ordered dose, concentration, patient weight, or pump settings are known. It also explains how to calculate a "constant" value based on the drug concentration which can then be used to determine the dosage delivered at a given pump rate. Examples are provided to demonstrate how to use the formulas to calculate dopamine and levophed infusion rates.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Drug Calculations II

    Uploaded by

    ms_lezah
    517 views2 pages
    The document provides formulas and instructions for calculating drug infusion rates for medications administered via intravenous pumps. It includes formulas for calculating dosages in mcg/kg/min, mcg/min, mg/min, and mg/h depending on whether the ordered dose, concentration, patient weight, or pump settings are known. It also explains how to calculate a "constant" value based on the drug concentration which can then be used to determine the dosage delivered at a given pump rate. Examples are provided to demonstrate how to use the formulas to calculate dopamine and levophed infusion rates.

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    drug calculations in nursing

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    The document provides formulas and instructions for calculating drug infusion rates for medications administered via intravenous pumps. It includes formulas for calculating dosages in mcg/kg/min, mcg/min, mg/min, and mg/h depending on whether the ordered dose, concentration, patient weight, or pump settings are known. It also explains how to calculate a "constant" value based on the drug concentration which can then be used to determine the dosage delivered at a given pump rate. Examples are provided to demonstrate how to use the formulas to calculate dopamine and levophed infusion rates.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as doc, pdf, or txt
    517 views2 pages

    Drug Calculations II

    Uploaded by

    ms_lezah
    The document provides formulas and instructions for calculating drug infusion rates for medications administered via intravenous pumps. It includes formulas for calculating dosages in mcg/kg/min, mcg/min, mg/min, and mg/h depending on whether the ordered dose, concentration, patient weight, or pump settings are known. It also explains how to calculate a "constant" value based on the drug concentration which can then be used to determine the dosage delivered at a given pump rate. Examples are provided to demonstrate how to use the formulas to calculate dopamine and levophed infusion rates.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as doc, pdf, or txt
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    Drug Calculations

    Helpful formulas:

    mcg/kg/min
    If a certain dose is ordered:
    _______ mcg/kg/min X _______ kg ______ mcg/ML = ______ mL/h
    Dosage Pt weight concentration pump setting

    If infusion pump is already set and running:


    ______ mcg/Ml X ______ mL/h 60 ______ kg = ______ mcg/kg/min
    Concentration pump setting Pt weight dosage

    mcg/min
    If a certain dose is ordered:
    _______ mcg/min X 60 ______ mcg/mL = ______ mL/h
    Dosage concentration pump setting

    If infusion pump is already set and running:


    ______ mcg/mL X ______ mL/h 60 = ______ mcg/min
    Concentration pump setting dosage

    mg/min
    If a certain dose is ordered:
    _______ mg/min X 60 ______ mg/mL = ______ mL/h
    Dosage concentration pump setting

    If infusion pump is already set and running:


    ______ mg/mL X ______ mL/h 60 = ______ mg/min
    Concentration pump setting dosage

    mg/h
    If a certain dose is ordered:
    _______ mg/h ______ mg/mL = ______ mL/h
    Dosage concentration pump setting

    If infusion pump is already set and running:


    ______ mg/mL X ______ mL/h = ______ mg/h
    Concentration pump setting dosage

    Adapted from Giuliano, Richards & Kaye (1993) A New strategy for calculating medication infusion rates.
    Critical Care Nurse. 13(6).
    Calculating a Constant:

    A Constant is the amount of drug delivered in units specified when the


    infusion pump is set at 1cc/hr.

    Basic Method for calculating a drug infusion CONSTANT

    Step 1: Decide the units to be delivered in (e.g. mcg/kg/min).


    Step 2: Using a calculator, enter the drug concentration in mg/cc
    (e.g.100mg/250cc).
    Step 3: If units you are to use involve microgram (mcg), multiply by 1000. If you
    are delivering in milligrams, skip this step.
    Step 4: If per minute, divide by 60. IF not per minute skip this step.
    Step 5: If per Kg, divide by the patients weight in KG. If not skip this step.

    The result of this calculation is the CONSTANT.

    Formula: Mg/cc X 1000 60 Kg = Constant

    Multiplying the pump rate by the constant will give you the dose infusing.
    To determine what rate to set a pump to deliver a specified amount of drug: Divide the
    amount desired by the constant.

    Example # 1:
    Dopamine runs at mcg/kg/min

    Dopamine comes as 400mg/250cc


    Patients weight is 75 kg
    Pump infusing at 10cc/hr

    Using formula
    400 / 250 = 1.6
    1.6 X 1000 = 1600
    1600 / 60 = 26.66666
    26.66666 / 75 = 0.3555 (this is your constant)
    0.3555 X 10 = 3.6 mcg/kg/min (dose infusing)

    Example # 2:
    Levophed runs at Mcg/min

    Levophed is mixed at 4mg/250ml


    Pump is infusing at 7cc/hr

    Using formula
    4/250 = 0.016
    0.016X 1000 = 16
    16 / 60 = 0.2666 (this is your constant)
    0.2666 X 7 = 1.86 mcg/min

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