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Drug Calculations II
Drug Calculations II
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
mcg/min
If a certain dose is ordered:
_______ mcg/min X 60 ______ mcg/mL = ______ mL/h
Dosage concentration pump setting
mg/min
If a certain dose is ordered:
_______ mg/min X 60 ______ mg/mL = ______ mL/h
Dosage concentration pump setting
mg/h
If a certain dose is ordered:
_______ mg/h ______ mg/mL = ______ mL/h
Dosage concentration pump setting
Adapted from Giuliano, Richards & Kaye (1993) A New strategy for calculating medication infusion rates.
Critical Care Nurse. 13(6).
Calculating a 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
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
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