Question

The HCP is notified that Marie is hemorrhaging and has an estimated blood loss of 1,200 mL since delivery. Her blood pressure is 70/40 mm Hg, Pulse 120, RR 28, SpO2 73%. The HCP's prescriptions include stat oxytocin (Pitocin) 10 units in each liter of normal saline to infuse at 40 milliunits/minute. The HCP also prescribes 0.2 mg methylergonovine maleate (Methergine) IM to be given immediately. The vial of oxytocin (Pitocin) is labeled 20 units/mL. The vial of methylergonovine (Methergine) is labeled 0.8 mg/mL. How many mL of oxytocin (Pitocin) should the nurse draw up in the syringe to inject into the 1000 mL bag of NS?

Answer 1

To determine the amount of oxytocin (Pitocin) that should be drawn up in the syringe to inject into the 1000 mL bag of normal saline (NS), use the proportional method. First, calculate the total amount of oxytocin (Pitocin) needed by multiplying the prescribed concentration by the desired volume. Next, find the volume of the oxytocin (Pitocin) solution to draw up by dividing the total amount needed by the concentration of the solution. Therefore, the nurse should draw up 500 mL of oxytocin (Pitocin) in the syringe to inject into the 1000 mL bag of normal saline (NS).

Step-by-step explanation:

To determine the amount of oxytocin (Pitocin) that should be drawn up in the syringe to inject into the 1000 mL bag of normal saline (NS), we need to use the proportional method.

First, calculate the total amount of oxytocin (Pitocin) needed by multiplying the prescribed concentration by the desired volume:

(10 units/mL) * (1000 mL) = 10,000 units.

Next, find the volume of the oxytocin (Pitocin) solution to draw up by dividing the total amount needed by the concentration of the solution:

(10,000 units) / (20 units/mL) = 500 mL.

Therefore, the nurse should draw up 500 mL of oxytocin (Pitocin) in the syringe to inject into the 1000 mL bag of normal saline (NS).