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Heparin dosage calculations are a critical skill for safe patient care. These problems typically involve calculating either the bolus dose, continuous infusion rate, or both. Here’s a quick guide to solving these problems: Understand the Order Identify the prescribed bolus dose and/or weight-based infusion rate. For weight-based rates, use the patient’s weight in kilograms to determine the total dose per hour. Match Units Ensure all units match before calculating. For example, convert kilograms to units, or mL/hour if necessary. Set Up Dimensional Analysis Use dimensional analysis to align your known quantities (e.g., the concentration of the solution) with the desired outcome (e.g., mL/hour). Solve Step-by-Step Carefully multiply and divide through the dimensional analysis equation. Avoid skipping steps to reduce errors. Double-Check Your Answer Verify that the answer makes sense clinically and mathematically, especially with high-alert medications like Heparin. For more detailed practice and step-by-step breakdowns of dimensional analysis, check out The Puzzle Piece Approach to Solving Dimensional Analysis, my workbook filled with practice problems and clear explanations to help you master dosage calculations with confidence!
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