Question

The provider orders Oxytocin to be started at 1 MU/min at 0500.  You are to increase the Oxytocin 1MU/min every 30 minutes.   There is 20 units of Oxytocin in 1000mL of LR.

1. How many mL/hr will you start the oxtocin?

2. How many mL/hr will you increase the oxytocin at0 530?

3. How many mL/hr will the pump be running at 0635?

Answer 1

As per the order prescribed,

20 units of oxytocin is added in 1000 ml of LR, we have in hand

And the order is 1MU/min to be run

1000ml/20 units X1/1000MUX1MU/1hr

Here we have 100ml of LR

20 units of oxytocin is added

Since oxytocin added is in unit we need to convert it to MU so multiply by 1/1000

order tobe run is 1MU

After the calculation it will be 1000/20000 = 1/20

0.2

We have calculated it for 1 hour so we need to convert it to minutes

0.2 X 60 (Where 1 hour is 60 minutes)

12ml/hr

As we need 1MU/min so the answer for flow rate  12ml/hr

1) oxytocin is started at 12ml/hr at 0500h

2) oxytocin to be increased to 1MU/min

So the rate should be doubled from the rate now so it will run at 24ml/hr

3) Since the order is to increase oxytocin to 1MU/min every 30 min the rate of oxytocin infusion at 0635h will be 48ml/hr