Dosage Calculations

Mass for Mass Calculations

Given an amount of mass per tablet, how many tablets do you require?

FORMULA:
Ordered
=x
Have

EXAMPLE:
Metoprolol (Lopressor), 25 mg PO, is ordered. Metoprolol is available in 50 mg tablets. How
many tablets should the nurse administer?

CALCULATE:
25 mg
= tablet
50 mg

FINAL ANSWER: The nurse should administer tablet.

Mass for Liquid Calculations

Given an amount of mass per liquid, how much liquid do you require?

FORMULA:
Ordered
x Volume you have = x
Have

EXAMPLE:
Phenytoin (Dilantin), 100 mg PO, is ordered to be given through a nasogastric tube. Phenytoin
is available as 30 mg/5 mL. How much should the nurse administer?

CALCULATE:
100 mg
x 5 mL = 16.7 mL
30 mg

FINAL ANSWER: The nurse should administer 16.7 mL.

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IV Flow Rate Calculations

FORMULA:
Volume (mL)
= x mL/hr
Time (hour)

EXAMPLE:
Infuse 250 mL over the next 120 minutes by infusion pump. What is the hourly rate?

CALCULATE:
250 mL
= 125 mL/hr
2 hour

FINAL ANSWER: The hourly rate is 125 mL/hr.

NOTE:
The question gave us the number of minutes, but IV flow rate calculations are always in HOURS. Be sure to
make conversions from minutes to hours if necessary.

IV Drop Rate Calculations

FORMULA:
Volume (mL)
x drop factor (gtts/mL) = x gtts/min
Time (min)

EXAMPLE:
Calculate the IV drop rate for 1,200 mL of normal saline to be infused in 6 hours. The infusion
set is calibrated at 15 gtts/mL.

CALCULATE:
1,200 mL
x 15 gtts/mL = 50 gtts/min
360 min

FINAL ANSWER: The IV drop rate is 50 gtts/min.

NOTE:
The question gave us the number of hours, but IV drop rate calculations are always in MINUTES. Be sure to
make conversions from hours to minutes if necessary.
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Insulin IV Calculations
Calculate the concentration of the solution.

FORMULA:
Units
=x
mL

EXAMPLE:
Order: Begin insulin infusion at 4 units/hour. The pharmacy sends a 250 mL bag of normal
saline mixed with 50 units of regular insulin. What is the concentration of this solution?

CALCULATE:
50 units
= 0.2 units/mL
250 mL

FINAL ANSWER: The concentration of the solution is 0.2 units/mL.

Heparin IV Flow Rate Calculations

Calculate the flow rate.

FORMULA:
Step 1 Calculate the concentration of the solution (units/mL).
Step 2 Multiply the concentration by the number of units to infuse per hour.

EXAMPLE:
Calculate the flow rate: 50,000 units of heparin in 1,000 mL D5W to infuse 2,000 units/hour.

CALCULATE (Step 1):

50,000 units 50 units
=
1,000 mL 1 mL

CALCULATE (Step 2):

50 units 2,000 units 50 units (x mL) = 2,000 units (1 mL)
Do the algebra!
x 50x = 2,000
1 mL x mL x = 40 mL/hour

FINAL ANSWER: The flow rate will be 40 mL/hour.

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Heparin IV Dosage Calculations
Calculate the dosage the patient will receive in units per hour.

FORMULA:
Step 1 Calculate the concentration of the solution (units/mL).
Step 2 Multiply the concentration by the volume to infuse per hour (the dosage the patient
will receive).

EXAMPLE:
An IV of 15,000 units of heparin in 500 mL D5W has been ordered to infuse at a rate of 40
mL/hour. What dosage will the patient receive?

CALCULATE (Step 1):

15,000 units 30 units
=
500 mL 1 mL

CALCULATE (Step 2):

30 units x units 30 units (40 mL) = x units (1 mL)
Do the algebra!
x 30 (40) = x
1 mL 40 mL
1,200 = x

FINAL ANSWER: The patient will receive 1,200 units/hour.

EXAMPLE:
Calculate the units/hour: An IV of 30,000 units of heparin in 1,000 mL D5W is infusing at a
rate of 40 gtt/min using a 60 gtt/mL microdrip tubing.

CALCULATE (Step 1): CALCULATE (Step 2):

Calculate the concentration: Calculate mL/min or mL/hour:

30,000 units 30 units 40 gtt/min

= x 60 min = 40 mL/hour
1,000 mL 1 mL 60 gtt/mL

CALCULATE (Step 3):

Multiply the concentration by the volume being infused to get the number of units being infused:

30 units x units 30 units (40 mL) = x units (1 mL)

x Do the algebra!
30 (40) = x
1 mL 40 mL
1,200 = x

FINAL ANSWER: The patient is receiving 1,200 units/hour.

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