Microsoft word - sample calculation problems 0806.doc
Sample Medication Calculation Problems (Need practice with IV calculations? Scroll farther down for IV Calculation Problems)
Do as many or as few as you need to increase your confidence in nursing calculations
Problem #1
Your 4 year old pediatric patient weight 40 pounds. She is febrile. You need to administer acetaminophen (Tylenol) 15mg/kg. How many mg will you administer? (answer on next page) Problem #2
The acetaminophen (Tylenol) packages come in liquid form 160 mg/5 mL. How many mL will you administer to your 40 pound patient? (answer on next page)
Problem #3
Your patient has an order for terbutaline (Brethine) 0.25 mg subcut. The pharmacy delivers a syringe with 1mg/mL. How much will you waste in order to give the correct dose? (answer on next page)
Problem #4
Your hospice patient has an order for 7.5 mg of oxycodone (OxyContin) q 6 hours PRN. The tablets provided are 15 mg tablets. How many tablets will you give for each dose? (answer on next page)
Problem # 5
You receive an order for 60 mg of meperidine (Demerol) IM for your post surgical patient. The injectible syringe is pre-packaged with 75 mg/ mL. How much will you administer? (answer on next page)
Problem #6
Your patient has been receiving digoxin (Lanoxin)125 mcg Q AM. Today his doctor writes a new order:
How many 125 mcg tablets will you administer? (answer on next page) Problem #7
Your patient has an order for vasopressin (Pitressin) 5 units subcut TID
You have on hand a 0.5 mL vial labeled 20 units/mL
(answer on next page)
Answer to Problem #1
First convert 40 pounds into kilograms. Method #1: Ratio Proportion Method #2: Formula Method
2.2x = 40 x = 18.18 kg Since you will administer 15mg of acetaminophen per 1 kg, you should multiply 15mg with the weight of 18.18 kg. 15mg x 18.18kg = 272.7. You will administer 272.7 mg.
Answer to Problem #2 (You know you need 272.7 mg from the previous question) Method #1: Ratio Proportion Method #2: Formula Method
160 x = 1363.5 x = 8.521875 mL Round. You will administer 8.5 mL. You will administer 8.5 mL.
Answer to Problem #3
Method #1: Ratio Proportion Method #2: Formula Method
Since you are given a syringe with 1 mg/mL and you only need 0.25 mg, then you also just need 0.25 mL. You need to dispose (waste) 0.75 mL when the syringe is filled 1 mL and then administer the rest of the syringe to the patient. You will waste 0.75 mL. Answer to Problem #4
Method #1: Ratio Proportion Method #2: Formula Method x = 0.5 tablet
You will administer one-half a tablet.
Answer to Problem #5
Method #1: Ratio Proportion Method #2: Formula Method
75 x = 60 x = 0.8 mL You will administer 0.8 mL.
Answer to Problem #6
Method #1: Ratio Proportion Method #2: Formula Method x= 2 tablets
x = .0.25/0.125 x = 2 tablets You will administer 2 tablets.
Answer to Problem #7
Method #1: Ratio Proportion Method #2: Formula Method x= 0.25 mL
x = 5/20 x = 0.25 mL
You will administer 0.25 mL of vasopressin.
Remember, the amount in the vial (in this case 0.5 mL) does not enter into the calculation. The important point is the concentration (the amount of drug per mL). IV Calculations
IV Problem #1 Your patient has an IV ordered to be delivered at a rate of 150mL/ hr. Your infusion set delivers 15 gtt (drops)/mL. How many drops per minute will you set the IV for? (answer on next page)
IV Problem #2 Your patient has an IV ordered to be delivered at 75mL/hr. The infusion set delivers 10 gtt (drops)/mL. How many drops per minute will you set the IV for? (answer on next page)
IV problem #1
Rationale:
Volume to be infused (mL) x drip rate = # gtt/min 60 minutes
150 x 15 = 2250 = 37.5; or round to 38 drop per minute 60
OR 60-minute Clock Method
¦ 10 gtts/mL
15 gtts/mL 60 divided by 15 = 4 Divide mL/hr by 4.
that with a 60 gtts/mL drip set, the number of mL/hr = the number of gtts/min)
150 = 37.5; round to 38 drops per minute 4 IV problem #2 75 x 10 = 750 = 12.5; round to 13 drops per minute 60 60 60-minute Clock Method
¦ 10 gtts/mL 60 divided by 10 = 6 Divide mL/hr by 6
that with a 60 gtts/mL drip set, the number of mL/hr = the number of gtts/min)
75 = 12.5; round to 13 drops per minute 6
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