ORAL DOSAGES OF DRUGS

• TABLETS AND CAPSULES

To find the correct dosage of a solid oral preparation, the following formula may be used:
Dose desired = dose administered (the unknown or X)
Dose on hand
D = X
H
 LIQUIDS
• The formula for computing the dosage of oral liquids is:

Dose desired X quantity = volume administered

Dose on hand
D x Q= X
H
 CALCULATION OF BASIC IV DRIP RATES

IV THERAPY FLUIDS

• IV therapy fluids will come in sterile plastic bags or glass bottles

• Physicians & health care providers order iv fluids & flow rates
IV ORDERS
• The prescriber is responsible for writing the order
• Administering and monitoring an IV = nursing responsibility
• IV order must specify the following:
• name of the IV solution
• name of medication to be added if any
• amount (volume) to be administered
• time period during which the iv is to infuse
 KINDS OF IV DRIP FACTORS
• IV fluids are administered through infusion sets
• plastic tubing attached at one end to the iv bag
• the other end to a catheter inserted into a blood vessel

• Drop factor is # of gtts = 1 ml

• this is found on the iv tubing package
IV DRIP FACTORS
• Microdrip = 60 gtt/mL
• Macrodrip need to check package
• 10 gtt/mL
• 15 gtt/mL
• 20 gtt/mL
• To calculate iv drip rates, this information must be known.
 DRIP CHAMBERS
• IV sets with a small needle in the chamber
• microdrip
• 1 mL = 60 gtts (60 gtts in drip chamber = 1 mL)
• IV sets without a small needle
• macrodrip
• baxter tubing macrodrip / 1 mL = 10 gtts(10 gtts in drip chamber = 1 mL)
• other companies tubing may be 15 gtt/mL or 20 gtts/mL
REGULATION OF IV DRIP RATE MANUALLY
• Tubing for these sets contain a roller camp
• Can open or close & regulate rate
manually
• Use a watch with a second hand to count
number of drops per minute in the
chamber
ELECTRIC INFUSION PUMPS
• IV infusion pumps utilized to deliver IV
fluids accurately- set at ml/hour
• need to enter the total number of
milliliters to be infused
• need to enter the number of milliliters
per hour
 LABELING IV’S
• Every iv must be labeled so any professional can check :
• the fluid infusing is correct
• the rate of infusion is correct
• Label:
• patient name
• room/bed #
• date & time
• IV order
CALCULATING BASIC IV DRIP RATES
• IV drip rate
• no pump = rate will be gtt/min- also known as gravity drip

• Formula for gtt/min: ml/hr x drop factor = gtt/min

60 (minutes)
• What is the formula for ml/hr?
total number of milliliters ordered = ml/hour
number of hours to run

• How do you calculate how long an iv will run?

number of milliliters ordered = number of hours to run
number of milliliters per hour

• How do you calculate the ml/hr to set the iv pump?

total number of milliliters ordered = ml/hour
number of hours to run
TEMPERATURES

• Convert Fahrenheit (ºF) to Celsius (ºc):

C = 5/9 x (F – 32 )

• Convert Celsius to Fahrenheit:

F = 9/5 x C + 32