Question

the nurse is calculation a heparin bolus and the infusion for the patient. the order is to bolus the patient with 30 units/kg and then place the patient on a 10 units/kg/ht continous infusion. the bolus dose sent by the pharmacy is 5000 units the heparin drip comes in 25,000 units in 500 ml 0.9%ns. the patient weighs 165 lbs. what is the total amount the nurse will administer for the bolus? how much heparin will the nurse program the pump per hour ?

Answer 1

The pharmacy has provided

1. Bolus dose as - 5000 Units of heparin
2. The infusion drip has been provided as - 25000 Unit in 500 ml on 0.9% of Normal saline

The orders for heparin bolus are:

• Heparin bolus dose - 30 unit / kg
• Therefore, the dose for a patient weighing 165 lbs =
  • First, convert pounds to Kilograms
  • Conversion factor - 1kg = 2.2 pounds
  • Therefore 165 lbs = 165 / 2.2 = 75 kg
• so the dose for heparin for a patient weighing 75 kg = 30 * 75 = 2250 units

The total dose that the nurse will administer bolus is 2250 units of heparin

Now let us calculate the drip rate:

The drip bag available is - 25000 Unit in 500 ml on 0.9% of Normal saline

The drip rate ordered - 10 units / kg / hr

Therefore the drip rate for a 75 kg patient = 10 units / kg / hr  * 75 = 750 unit /hr

The formula for heparin infusion rate =

total units ( in the IV bag) / total volume of the IV bag = units/hour / drip rate (ml/hr)

Inserting all values in the formula

25000 units / 500 ml = 750 unit/ hr / drip rate

drip rate =750 units / hr * 500 ml / 25000 units ( units get cancelled)

drip rate = 750 / hr * 500 ml / 25000 = 15 ml / hr

The drip rate for heparin continuous infusion is 15 ml / hr