MED DOSE BASICS

Medication calculation is a vital skill all nurses should learn in order to properly do
medication administration in a clinical setting.

The easiest way to do medication calculations is 6 RIGHTS OF

with a method called “Dimensional Analysis”. This MED ADMINISTRATION
method reduces errors and can be used for all
dosage calculations. Right PATIENT
Right MEDICATION
How To Do Dimensional Analysis: Right DOSE
Right ROUTE
Right TIME
1. Start with the conversion the question is Right DOCUMENTATION
asking for. Ex: mg, L, ml

EXAMPLE: A patient drinks 3 ounces of orange juice. How many ml is that?

Start equation with ml since it asks for ml.

2. Build equation by placing information with same label as denominator in the

numerator so unwanted labels cancel out.

Start with ml, then how can we get from ml à ounces? Use your conversion sheet to
find out 30 ml = 1 ounce.
30 ml
_______
1 oz

3. Repeat until all conversions beside the answer are cancelled out. Note: Once all
conversions from the question are added to the equation and the only conversion
left after cancelling out is what the answer should be, then you are done.

30 ml = 3 oz
______
1 oz

4. Calculate. MULTIPLY top row and DIVIDE by bottom row.

30 X 3
_______ = 90 ml
1
 SIMPLE CONVERSIONS
Practice Problems

1. 60 kg into lbs

2. 180 ml into ounces

3. 25 mg into grams.

4. 45 ml into tablespoons.

5. 1.4 L into ml.

6. 2 tsp into ml.

7. 20,000 mcg into kg.

8. 5 tbsp into tsp.

9. 180 ml into ounces.

10. 22 lbs into kg.

 SIMPLE CONVERSIONS
ANSWERS
GUIDELINES: Use list of conversions as shown on first page.
Once you plug in all the parts of your equation, MULTIPLY TOP ROW and DIVIDE BY
BOTTOM ROW.

1. 132 lbs. Convert 60 kg into lbs.

2.2 lbs 60 kg
________ = = 132 lbs.
1 kg

2. 6 oz. Convert 180 ml into ounces.

1 ounce 180 ml
__________ = = 6 ounces.
30 ml

3. 0.025 g. Convert 25 mg into grams.

1g 25 mg
______ = = 0.025 g
1000 mg

4. 3 tbsp. Convert 45 ml into tablespoons.

1 tbsp 45 ml
_______ = = 3 tbsp.
15 ml

5. 1400 ml. Convert 1.4 L into ml.

1000 ml 1.4 L
__________ = = 1400 ml
1L

6. 10 ml. Convert 2 tsp into ml.

5 ml 2 tsp
_____ = = 10 ml
1 tsp
7. 0.00002 kg. Convert 20,000 mcg into kg.

1 kg 1g 1 mg 20,000 mcg
_____ = _________ = ____________ = = 0.00002 kg
1000 g 1000 mg 1000 mcg

8. 15 tsp. Convert 5 tbsp into tsp.

3 tsp 5 tbsp
_____ = = 15 tsp
1 tbsp

9. 6 oz. Convert 180 ml into ounces.

1 oz 180 ml
_____ = = 6 oz.
30 ml

10. 10 kg. Convert 22 lbs into kg.

1 kg 22 lbs
______ = =10 kg.
2.2 lbs
 MASS & LIQUIDS
Practice Problems
1. A patient is having an annual exam and the scale says the patient weighs 110 lbs.
What is the patient’s weight in kg?

2. A provider orders Morphine 15 mg po. Morphine comes in a bottle of 5 mg/ml. How

many ml does the patient receive?

3. A provider prescribes 150 mg of sertraline. The pharmacy sends a unit dose package
labeled 100 mg per tablet. How many tablets will the nurse administer?

4. An order from the provider is sent over for Levothyroxine 0.1 mg po daily. The package
is available in tablets of Levothyroxine 50 mcg. How many tablets would you administer?

5. The provider ordered 500 mg of Augmentin to be given to your patient every 12 hours.
Using the label below, how many ml will you administer?

6. There is an order for 0.007 kg of Ampicillin. Ampicillin is available as 15,000 mg tablets.

What should the nurse administer?

7. The nurse is to give Gentamycin 100 mg IM. The pharmacy sends a vial of Gentamycin
labeled 0.5 grams/5 ml. How many ml will the nurse administer?

8. Amoxicillin suspension is available as 250 mg/ 5 ml. The doctor ordered amoxicillin 125
mg PO four times daily. How many ml will you give per day?

9. A patient was prescribed 10,000 mcg of Methylprednisolone. What should the nurse
administer?

10. A nurse is ordered to administer Valium 2.5 mg IM. When reconstituted with 1.4 ml of
sterile water, vial of Valium has a concentration of 10 mg/ 2 ml. How many ml will nurse
administer?
 MASS & LIQUIDS
ANSWERS
1. 50 kg. A patient is having an annual exam and the scale says the patient weighs 110
lbs. What is the patient’s weight in kg? Start with kg. Multiply TOP row, divide by
BOTTOM row for each question.

1 kg 110 lbs
_______ = = 50 kg
2.2 lbs

2. 3 ml. A provider orders Morphine 15 mg po. Morphine comes in a bottle of 5 mg/ml.

How many ml does the patient receive? Start with ml. Note: we know that 1 ml = 5 mg
according to Morphine bottle.

1 ml 15 mg
______ = = 3 ml
5 mg

3. 1.5 tablets. A provider prescribes 150 mg of sertraline. The pharmacy sends a unit dose
package labeled 100 mg per tablet. How many tablets will the nurse administer? Start with
tablets.

1 tablet 150 mg
________ = = 1.5 tablets
100 mg

4. 2 tablets. An order from the provider is sent over for Levothyroxine 0.1 mg po daily. The
package is available in tablets of Levothyroxine 50 mcg. How many tablets would you
administer? Start with tablets.

1 tablet 1000 mcg 0.1 mg

_________ = ___________ = = 2 tablets
50 mcg 1 mg

5. 20 ml. The provider ordered 500 mg of Augmentin to be given to your patient every 12
hours. Using the label below, how many ml will you administer? Start with ml. Label shows
125 mg/5 ml.
5 ml 500 mg
_____ = = 20 ml every 12 hrs.
125 mg
6. 0.5 tablet. There is an order for 0.007 kg of Ampicillin. Ampicillin is available as 15,000
mg tablets. What should the nurse administer? Start with tablets. Use conversions to get
from mgàkg.

1 tablet 1000 mg 1000 gm 0.007 kg

_________ = __________ = __________ = =0.46 or 0.5 tablet
15, 000 mg 1 gm 1 kg

7. 1 ml. The nurse is to give Gentamycin 100 mg IM. The pharmacy sends a vial of
Gentamycin labeled 0.5 grams/5 ml. How many ml will the nurse administer? Start with ml.

5 ml 1g 100 mg
_____ = _____ = = 1 ml
0.5 g 1000 mg

8. 10 ml/day. Amoxicillin suspension is available as 250 mg/ 5 ml. The doctor ordered
amoxicillin 125 mg PO four times daily. How many ml will you give per day? Start with ml.

5 ml 125 mg
_____ = = 2.5 ml / per dose = 10 ml / per day
250 mg

9. 2.5 tablets. A patient was prescribed 10,000 mcg of Methylprednisolone. What should
the nurse administer? Start with tablets. The package states 1 tablet is 4 mg.

1 tablet 1 mg 10,000 mcg

________ = ___________ = _____________ = 2.5 tablets
4 mg 1000 mcg

10. 0.5 ml. A nurse is ordered to administer Valium 2.5 mg IM. When reconstituted with 1.4
ml of sterile water, vial of Valium has a concentration of 10 mg/ 2 ml. How many ml will
nurse administer? Start with ml. Ignore amount for reconstituting medication, the end
concentration of the medication is what should be used in the equation.

2 ml 2.5 mg
_____ = = 0.5 ml
10 mg
 PEDIATRIC WEIGHT
Practice Problems
GUIDELINE FOR PEDIATRIC DOSAGE:
Always convert weight from lbs à kg first before starting equation. (1 kg = 2.2 lbs)

1. A doctor orders a one time dose of morphine sulfate 0.05 mg/kg. Your client weighs 36
pounds. The syringe of morphine is labeled 0.5 mg/ml. How many ml will you give?

2. Provider ordered Digoxin Elixir Pediatric 15 mcg/kg of body weight per dose PO now.
Label reads: Digoxin 0.05 mg per ml. How many ml should child receive per dose. Child
weighs 60 lbs.

3. A child weighs 22 lbs. An order for Augmentin Oral

Suspension is prescribed at 30 mg per kg/day PO in two
divided doses. The label reads: 125 mg/ 5 ml. How many ml
should be administered per dose?

4. Solumedrol 1.5 mg/kg is ordered for a child weighing 73

lbs. Solumedrol is available as 75 mg/ 1 ml is available. How
many ml must the nurse administer?

5. A pediatric client weighs 40 lbs. The provider ordered Gantrisin Pediatric Suspension
150 mg per kg PO in four divided doses per day. The label reads: Gantrisin 0.5 g per tsp.
How many ml should the nurse administer per dose?

6. A pediatrician ordered Velosef Oral Suspension 25 mg/kg in 2 divided doses PO. It is

available as 250 mg per 5 ml. The client weighs 44 lbs. How many ml should the nurse
administer per dose?

7. A child weighs 37 kg. An order for Tetracycline Hydrochloride 25 mg per kg/day in four
divided doses PO. Pharmacy sends bottle of Tetracycline Hydrochloride for 125 mg per 5
ml. How many ml should the nurse administer per dose?

8. Erythromycin 30 mg/kg/day divided every 6 hours PO. Child weighs 32 kg. How many
ml will be given per dose after the medication is reconstituted? Use Label Below.
 PEDIATRIC WEIGHT
ANSWERS
1. 1.6 ml. A doctor orders a one time dose of morphine sulfate 0.05 mg/kg. Your client
weighs 36 pounds. The syringe of morphine is labeled 0.5 mg/ml. How many ml will you
give? First begin with converting lbs à kg. Start equation with ml, find it in equation. 36 lbs
= 16.4 kg

1 ml 0.05 mg 16.4 kg
_____ = _________ = ________ = 1.6 ml
0.5 mg 1 kg

2. 8.2 ml/dose. Provider ordered Digoxin Elixir Pediatric 15 mcg/kg of body weight per
dose PO now. Label reads: Digoxin 0.05 mg per ml. How many ml should child receive per
dose. Child weighs 60 lbs. Converts 60 lbs à 27.3 kg. Start with ml.

1 ml 1 mg 15 mcg 27.3 kg
_____ __________ _________ = Round up to 8.2 ml/dose.
0.05 mg 1000 mcg 1 kg

3. 6 ml/dose. A child weighs 22 lbs. An order for Augmentin Oral Suspension is prescribed
at 30 mg per kg/day PO in two divided doses. The label reads: 125 mg/ 5 ml. How many ml
should be administered per dose? Convert 22 lbs à 10 kg. Start with ml.

5 ml 30 mg 10 kg
_____ = _______ = _______ = 12 ml/day. We need per dose so divide by 2.
125 mg 1 kg day 12/2 = 6 ml/dose.

4. 0.66 ml. Solumedrol 1.5 mg/kg is ordered for a child weighing 73 lbs. Solumedrol is
available as 75 mg/ 1 ml is available. How many ml must the nurse administer? Convert 73
lbs à 33.2 kg. Start with ml.

1 ml 1.5 mg 33.2 kg
_____ = ________ = 0.66 ml
75 mg 1 kg

5. 6.8 ml/dose. A pediatric client weighs 40 lbs. The provider ordered Gantrisin Pediatric
Suspension 150 mg per kg PO in four divided doses per day. The label reads: Gantrisin 0.5 g
per tsp. How many ml should the nurse administer per dose? Convert 40 lbs à 18.2 kg.
Start with ml. We technically do not have ml, but we know using our list of conversion that
we can get from ml to tsp.
5 ml 1 tsp 1g 150 mg 18.2 kg
____ = ______ = _________ = __________ ________ = 27.3/day. Divide by 4 doses.
1 tsp 0.5 g 1000 mg 1 kg day =6.8 ml/dose

6. 5 ml/dose. A pediatrician ordered Velosef Oral Suspension 25 mg/kg in 2 divided doses

PO. It is available as 250 mg per 5 ml. The client weighs 44 lbs. How many ml should the
nurse administer per dose? Convert 44 lbs à 20 kg. Start with ml.

5 ml 25 mg 20 kg
_____ = _______ = 10 ml/day. Divide by 2 doses.
250 mg 1 kg = 10/2 = 5 ml/dose.

7. 9.3 ml/dose. A child weighs 37 kg. An order for Tetracycline Hydrochloride 25 mg per
kg/day in four divided doses PO. Pharmacy sends bottle of Tetracycline Hydrochloride for
125 mg per 5 ml. How many ml should the nurse administer per dose? No need to convert
lbsàkg. Start with ml.
5 ml 25 mg 37 kg
____ = _______ = _______ = 37 ml/day. Divide by 4 doses.
125 mg 1 kg day = 9.25 or 9.3 ml/dose

8. 2 ml/dose. Erythromycin 30 mg/kg/day divided every 6 hours PO. Child weighs 32 kg.
How many ml will be given per dose after the medication is reconstituted? Start with ml.
Notice 5 ml/400 mg on label.

5 ml 30 mg 32 kg
_____ = _______ = _______ = 12 ml/day. It needs to be divided into 4 since
since it is Q6hrs. .
400 mg 1 kg 1 day 12/4 = 3 ml/dose.
 IV FLOW RATES
Practice Problems
GUIDELINE FOR IV FLOW RATES:
IV Flow Rates (otherwise known as hourly flow rate) are usually answered in ML/HR.

1. Order: 1000 ml LR over 6 hours. What is the hourly

rate?

2. Order: 3000 ml 0.45 NS every 24 hours. What is the

hourly rate?

3. Ancef 150 mg is diluted in 50 ml of D5W to infuse over

25 minutes. What is the hourly rate?

4. 40 mEq Potassium Chloride is ordered to be given in

100 ml NS over 45 minutes. What is the hourly rate?

5. Vancomycin 1 gm is to be given in 125 ml of D5NS over 75 minutes.

What is the hourly rate?

6. 20 mEq Potassium Chloride in 50 ml NS over 30 minutes. What is the

hourly rate?

7. Order: 1800ml ½ NS per day by infusion pump. What is the hourly rate?

8. Cimetidine 300 mg is diluted in 100 ml D5NS to be infused over 50

minutes. What is the hourly flow rate?

9. Order: 0.5 L D5LR in 8 hours. What is the hourly rate?

10. Order: 1 L of NS in 4 hours. What is the hourly rate?

 IV FLOW RATES
ANSWERS
1. 167 ml/hr. Order: 1000 ml LR over 6 hours.

1000 ml
______ = 167 ml/hr
6 hrs

2. 125 ml/hr. Order: 3000 ml 0.45 NS every 24 hours.

3000 ml
_________ = 125 ml/hr
24 hrs

3. 120 ml/hr. Ancef 150 mg is diluted in 50 ml of D5W to infuse over 25 minutes. What is
the hourly rate? Normally, answers are ml per hour, but this is 25 minutes. That means we
have to give this medication at a faster rate to infuse what would normally take an hour in
only 25 minutes. The equation should still end in ML/HR.

50 ml 60 min
________ = ___________ = 120 ml/hr
25 min 1 hr

4. 133 ml/hr. 40 mEq Potassium Chloride is ordered to be given in 100 ml NS over 45

minutes. What is the hourly rate? Start with ml.

100 ml 60 min
______________ = ___________ = 133 ml/hr
45 minutes 1 hr

5. 100 ml/hr. Vancomycin 1 gm is to be given in 125 ml of D5NS over 75 minutes. What is

the hourly rate? Start with ml.

125 ml 60 min
__________ = _________ = 100 ml/hr
75 min 1 hr

6. 100 ml/hr. 20 mEq Potassium Chloride in 50 ml NS over 30 minutes. What is the hourly
rate? Start with ml.

50 ml 60 min
________ = ________ = 100 ml/hr
30 minutes 1 hr
7. 75 ml/hr. Order: 1800ml ½ NS per day by infusion pump. What is the hourly rate? Start
with ml. This question is saying per day, meaning 1800 ml in 24 hours.

1800 ml
__________ = 75 ml/hr
24 hrs

8. 120 ml/hr. Cimetidine 300 mg is diluted in 100 ml D5NS to be infused over 50 minutes.
What is the hourly flow rate? Start with ml, do not confuse using mg. IV flow rates are
always ml/hr.

100 ml 60 min
_______ = _________ = 120 ml/hr
50 min 1 hr

9. 63 ml/hr. Order: 0.5 L D5LR in 8 hours. What is the hourly rate? Continue to start with
ml. We do not have it in our equation, so use your list of conversions to find ml à L. No
need to add 60 min/1 hr either since the equation is already set in hours.

1000 ml 0.5 L
_________ = _______ = 62.5 or 63 ml/hr
1L 8 hours

10. 250 ml/hr. Order: 1 L of NS in 4 hours. What is the hourly rate? Start with ml and use
your list of conversions to find ml à L.

1000 ml 1L
_________ = _________ = 250 ml/hr
1L 4 hours
 IV DROP RATE
Practice Problems
GUIDELINE FOR IV DROP FACTOR:
IV drop factor is also known as IV drip rate or gtt/min.
IV Drop Factor: drops/1 ml.
IV Drip Rate: The answer for your equations should always be in DROPS/MIN.

1. The nurse is to administer Keflin 1 gm in 50 ml over 20 minutes. The drop factor is 20

drops. What is the drip rate?

2. An order is prescribed for Tobramycin 80 mg in

120 ml over 1.5 hours. The drop factor is 12 drops.
What is the drip rate?

3. IV flow rate for 598,000 mcl of D5W over 522

min. Drop factor of 91 gtts. What is the IV drip
rate?

4. The nurse is to administer a medication at an IV

flow rate of 631 ml of D5W over 936 min. Drop
factor is 21 gtts. What is the IV drip rate?

5. An order for Sodium Chloride 0.9% at 100 ml/hr was prescribed. How many drops per
minute, using tubing with a 15 drop factor?

6. Acyclovir 300 mg is in 150 ml of D5W to infuse over 1 ¼ hrs. Drop factor is 20 drops/ml.
What is the drip rate?

7. Calculate the IV drip rate for 0.91 L of 0.9% NaCl IV over 22.1 hrs. Drop factor is 86. What
is drip rate in gtts/min?

8. Calculate IV drip rate for 0.00065 kL of 0.9% NaCl over 12.5 hrs. Drop factor is 15
gtts/min. What is the IV drip rate?
 IV DROP RATE
ANSWERS
1. 50 drops/min. The nurse is to administer Keflin 1 gm in 50 ml over 20 minutes. The
drop factor is 20 drops. What is the drip rate? Remember, drip rate is equal to drops/min.
Anytime we are given drops, it is always drops/1ml. Start with drops.

20 drops 50 ml
__________ = ______ = 50 drops/min
1 ml 20 min

2. 16 drops/min. An order is prescribed for Tobramycin 80 mg in 120 ml over 1.5 hours.

The drop factor is 12 drops. What is the drip rate? Start with drops.

12 drops 120 ml 1 hr
__________ = _________ = _________ = 16 drops/min
1 ml 1.5 hrs 60 min

3. 104 drops/min. Calculate IV flow rate for 598,000 mcl of D5W over 522 min. Drop
factor of 91 gtts. What is the IV drip rate? Gtts is just a fancier term for drops. Use your list
of conversions to go from mcl à Continue to start with drops.

91 gtts (drops) 1 ml 598,000 mcl

_______________ = __________ = _______________ = 104 gtts (drops)/min
1 ml 1000 mcl 522 min

4. 14 drops/min. The nurse is to administer a medication at an IV flow rate of 631 ml of

D5W over 936 min. Drop factor is 21 gtts. What is the IV drip rate? Start with drops.

21 drops 631 ml
__________ = __________ = 14 gtts (drops)/min
1 ml 936 min

5. 25 drops/min. An order for Sodium Chloride 0.9% at 100 ml/hr was prescribed. How
many drops per minute, using tubing with a 15 drop factor? Asking drops per minute is just
asking the drip rate. Start with drops.

15 drops 100 ml 1 hr
___________ = _________ = _________ = 25 drops/min
1 ml 1 hr 60 min
6. 40 drops/min. Acyclovir 300 mg is in 150 ml of D5W to infuse over 1 ¼ hrs. Drop factor
is 20 drops/ml. What is the drip rate? Start with drops.

20 drops 150 ml 1 hr
_________ = _________ = _________ = 40 drops/min.
1 ml 1.25 hr 60 min

7. 59 gtts/min. Calculate the IV drip rate for 0.91 L of 0.9% NaCl IV over 22.1 hrs. Drop
factor is 86. What is drip rate in gtts/min? Start with drops. Use list of conversions to get
from ml à L.

86 drops 1000 ml 0.91 L 1 hr

__________ = _________ = _________ = _________ = 59 gtts (drops)/min
1 ml 1L 22.1 hrs 60 min

8. 13 drops/min. Calculate IV drip rate for 0.00065 kL of 0.9% NaCl over 12.5 hrs. Drop
factor is 15 gtts/min. What is the IV drip rate? Start with drops and use list of conversions
to go from kl à ml.

15 drops 1000 ml 1000 L 0.00065 kL 1 hr

_________ = _________ = _________ = ____________ = __________ = 13 drops/min.
1 ml 1L 1 kL 12.5 hrs 60 min
 SLIDING SCALE INSULIN
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
1. A patient was prescribed Insulin Aspart to given SQ AC and HS as follows:

Blood Glucose Insulin Dose

<70 mg/dL Hypoglycemia Protocol
70-150 0 units
151-200 2 units

201-250 4 units
251-300 6 units
301-350 8 units
351-400 10 units
>400 units Call MD

The client’s blood glucose showed 360. How many units should the nurse administer?

2. A patient was prescribed Humulin NPH 40 units and Humulin Regular 25 units SC every
morning. The AM finger-stick blood sugar is 202mg/dL. How many units should the nurse
administer?

Blood Glucose Insulin Dose

<70 Hypoglycemia Protocol

70-180 0 units

181-200 2 units

201-220 4 units

221-240 6 units

>240 Call MD
 SLIDING SCALE INSULIN
ANSWERS

1. 10 units. Based on the scale with a blood glucose of 360, the patient should receive 10
units.

2. 69 units. The nurse automatically gives 40 units NPH and 25 units Regular every
morning along with extra insulin based on the finger-stick blood sugar results. BG was 202,
which would mean 4 extra units of insulin should be administered.

40 + 25 + 4 = 69 units.
 HEPARIN THERAPY
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
1. An order is placed for Heparin 5,000 units IV stat. Heparin comes in a vial with 10,000
units per 1 ml. How many ml will be given?

2. A provider orders an IV heparin drip at 12

units/kg/hr and to administer a loading bolus dose of
60 units/kg IV before initiation of drip. Heparin bag
reads: 25,000 units/250 ml. Patient weighs 189 lbs.
What is the flow rate you will set the IV pump at?

3. An order for IV Heparin at 18 units/kg/hr is

prescribed with a loading bolus dose of 30 units/kg IV
before initiation of drip. Heparin bag reads: 25,000
units/500 ml. Patient weighs 78 kg. What is the flow
rate for the IV pump, and how many units will be
administered for the bolus?

4. Your patient’s recent PTT is 45. According to

protocol, you need to increase Heparin drip by 2
units/kg/hr and administer 30 units/kg IV bolus.
Current drip is at 22 units/kg/hr from bag that reads
25,000 units/250 ml. Patient weights 129 lbs. How
many units will patient receive as a bolus, and how
many units/kg/hr will the patient receive based on new
PTT result?

5. Your patient has a Heparin drip running at 26 ml/hr. The heparin bag reads 12,500
units/250 ml. How many units per hour is the patient receiving?
 HEPARIN THERAPY
ANSWERS
1. 0.5 ml. An order is placed for Heparin 5,000 units IV stat. Heparin comes in a vial with
10,000 units per 1 ml. How many ml will be given? Start with ml.

1 ml 5,000 units.
______________ = = 0.5 ml
10,000 units

2. 10.3 ml/hr. A provider orders an IV heparin drip at 12 units/kg/hr and to administer a

loading bolus dose of 60 units/kg IV before initiation of drip. Heparin bag reads: 25,000
units/250 ml. Patient weighs 189 lbs. What is the flow rate you will set the IV pump at?
This is a more complex question. First convert 189 lbs à 86 kg. Next, the question is asking
for the IV flow rate of the heparin drip (ml/hr), not the bolus. Start with ml since the
answer we need is ML/HR.

250 ml 12 units 86 kg
________ = _________ = ________ = 10.3 ml/hr
25,000 units 1 kg 1 hr

3. 28 ml/hr flow rate, 2340 units bolus. An order for IV Heparin at 18 units/kg/hr is
prescribed with a loading bolus dose of 30 units/kg IV before initiation of drip. Heparin bag
reads: 25,000 units/500 ml. Patient weighs 78 kg. What is the flow rate for the IV pump,
and how many units will be administered for the bolus? This is a two part question. First
answer the flow rate by starting with ml.

FLOW RATE:

500 ml 18 units 78 kg
________ = _________ = ________ = 28 ml/hr for flow rate
25,000 units 1 kg 1 hr

LOADING BOLUS: 30 units/kg. Start with units.

30 units 78 kg
__________ = 2340 units for bolus.
1 kg

4. Bolus of 1770 units, flow rate is 24 units/kg/hr. Your patient’s recent PTT is 45.
According to protocol, you need to increase Heparin drip by 2 units/kg/hr and administer
30 units/kg IV bolus. Current drip is at 22 units/kg/hr from bag that reads 25,000
units/250 ml. Patient weights 129 lbs. How many units will patient receive as a bolus, and
how many units/kg/hr will the patient receive based on new PTT result? This is a two part
question. First convert 129 lbs à 59 kg.

LOADING BOLUS: 30 units/kg IV bolus order.

30 units 59 kg
__________ = 1770 units
1 kg

NEW FLOW RATE: Old one was 22 units/kg/hr. Order to increase by 2 units/kg/hr.
22 units + 2 units =24 units. Answer is 24 units/kg/hr.

5. 1300 units/hr. Your patient has a Heparin drip running at 26 ml/hr. The heparin bag
reads 12,500 units/250 ml. How many units per hour is the patient receiving? Start with
units since that is what the answer is asking for.

12,500 units 26 ml
____________ = __________ = 1300 units/hr.
250 ml 1 hr
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