Final answer:
To find the volume of heparin to administer, use the formula: (dose ordered/dose available) x volume available. For a dose of 15,000 units, using a concentration of 20,000 units/mL, the nurse should administer 0.75 mL of heparin.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student is asking how to calculate the correct dosage of medication; specifically, how to determine the volume of heparin needed for injection when the concentration of the heparin solution is given. The formula for this calculation is straightforward: (dose ordered/dose available) × volume available. Using this formula, we can calculate the dosage as follows:
Dose ordered: 15,000 units
Dose available: 20,000 units/mL
Volume available: 1 mL
Now we do the calculation:
(15,000 units ÷ 20,000 units/mL) × 1 mL = 0.75 mL
The nurse should administer 0.75 mL per dose of heparin.