Question

Your patient has a Heparin drip running at 24 mL/hr. The Heparin bag reads 12,500 units/250 mL. How many units per hour is the patient receiving?

Answer 1

To calculate the units of Heparin received per hour, multiply the drip rate of 24 mL/hr by the concentration of Heparin, which is 50 units/mL. The answer is 1,200 units/hr.

Step-by-step explanation:

To calculate the number of units of Heparin the patient is receiving per hour:

• First find the concentration of the Heparin solution provided. The question states it is 12,500 units/250 mL.
• To get the concentration per mL, divide the total units by the total volume: 12,500 units ÷ 250 mL = 50 units/mL.
• Now, multiply the concentration (units/mL) by the flow rate, which is 24 mL/hr to get the units per hour: 50 units/mL × 24 mL/hr = 1,200 units/hr.

Therefore, the patient is receiving 1,200 units of Heparin per hour.