Need to Know Math Formulas
Ratio-proportion dosage on hand = dosage desired Ex: Order – 3 mg
amount on hand (X) amount desired On hand – 2 mg/5 mL
Cross Multiply: 2 mg = 3 mg Cross Multiply: 2mg x X = 3 mg x 5 mL
dosage on hand x (X) = amount on hand x dosage desired 5 mL X mL
2X = 15
Solve for X
Solve for X: 2X =15 X = 7.5 mL
Check your work: insert answer into formula for X 2
IV Flow Rates Total mL = mL/h Ex: 1000 mL in 8 hours
Total hours
1000 mL = 125 mL/h **
**Always round to 8h
nearest whole Total mL x 60 min/h = mL/h Ex: 100 mL in 45 min
number! Total min.
100 mL x 60 min/h = 600 = 133 mL/h
45 min 45
Drop Factor Short mL/h = gtts/min Ex: 90 mL/h using 20 gtt/mL tubing (drop factor 3)
Cut drop factor
60 gtts/mL = 1 90 = 30 gtt/min **
20 gtts/mL = 3 3
15 gtts/mL = 4 Drop factor x gtts/min = mL/h Ex: 15 gtts/mL (drop factor 4) x 25 gtts/min = 100 mL/h **
10 gtts/mL = 6
IV Infusion Time Total volume = time in hours Ex: 1000 mL = 13.3 h 0.3 h x 60 min/h = 18
mL/h 75 mL/h
13 hours, 18 min
Dosing by weight Amount x weight = dose Ex: 1.5 mg / kg q 4 h pt weighs 22 pounds
* Be sure weight is calculated as specified: either pounds or 22 pounds ÷ 2.2 = 10 kg
kilograms
1.5 mg x 10 kg = 15 mg q 4 h
Dosing by weight Amount range x weight = safe dose range Ex: 10 – 15 mg / kg q 4 hr pt weighs 12 kg
using range
10 mg x 12 kg = 120 (low limit of range)
15 mg x 12 kg = 180 ( high limit of range)
Safe dose falls between 120 – 180 mg q 4 h
Weight-based Pt’s weight in kg (rounded to nearest 10 kg) Ex: pt weighs 160 pounds 160 ÷ 2.2 = 72.7 kg or 70 kg
Heparin Drips Standard Heparin drip concentration is 250,000 units/250 mL of ½ NS Order: 18 units/kg/h
(which is equivalent to 100 units/mL)
Calculate x units/kg/h 18 units x 70 kg/h = 1260 units/h (remember 100 units/mL)
1260 ÷ 100 = 12.6
Begin infusion of Heparin 250,000 units/250 mL ½ NS at 12.6
mL/h
Weight-based Pts’s weight in kg (rounded to nearest 10 kg) Ex: 160 pound pt = 70 kg (see above)
Heparin Bolus Standard Heparin bolus concentration is 1000 units/mL Order: 75 units/kg bolus
Calculate x units/kg
75 units x 70 = 5250 units (remember 1000 units/mL)
5250 ÷ 1000 = 5.25
Administer 5.25 mL bolus of Heparin 1000 units/mL
IV medication D x Q = R (mL/min) Ex: Lidocaine 2 g IV in 500 mL D5W at 2 mg/min
ordered per H (remember 2 g = 2000 mg)
minute
D = dosage desired 2 mg/min x 500 mL = R (mL/min)
H = dosage you have available 2000 mg
Q = quantity of available solution
1000 = ½ or 0.5 mL/min
2000
Common Equivalents and Abbreviations
1 g = 1,000 mg = 1,000,000 mcg 3t=1T gr i = 60 mg gtts – drops lb – pound
0.001 g = 1 mg = 1,000 mcg 2 T = 1 fl oz gr ¼ = 15 mg g – gram in – inch
0.000001 g = 0.001 mg = 1 mcg 1 cup = 8 fl oz gr ss = 30 mg mg – milligram oz – ounce
1 kg = 1000 g 1 t = 5 mL mcg – microgram t – teaspoon
1 L = 1000 mL 1 T = 15 mL 1 kg = 2.2 lb kg – kilogram T – Tablespoon
0.001 L = 1 mL 1 fl oz = 30 mL 1 in = 2.5 cm L – liter gr – grain
1 mL = 1 cc 1 cup = 240 mL mL – milliliter i – one
v – five
ss – ½
Rules for Math Notation
Always include a leading zero: 0.4 mg NOT .4 mg
Never include a trailing zero: 16 mL NOT 16.0 mL
Answers must include unit of measurement: 4 mL, 60 gtts/min, 100 mg etc. NOT 4, 60, 100.
IV flow rates and drip rates must be rounded to nearest whole number
Basic Rounding Rule: volumes less than 1 mL – round to nearest hundredth (2 decimal places); volumes greater than 1 mL – round to nearest tenth (1
decimal place)