Order: ceftriaxone 2 g in 100 mL of 0.9% NaCI (normal saline solution) over 30 minutes

Available: Macro drip set: 15 gtt/mL

Calculate the IV flow rate in gtt/min.

Given:

Total Heparin in solution: 25,000 units

Volume of solution: 250 mL

Infusion rate: 11 mL/hr

Step 1: Calculate the concentration of Heparin in the solution:

Concentration (units/mL) = Total Heparin (units) / Volume of solution (mL)

Concentration (units/mL) = 25,000 units / 250 mL

Concentration (units/mL) = 100 units/mL

Step 2: Calculate the infusion rate in units/hr:

Infusion rate (units/hr) = Infusion rate (mL/hr) x Concentration (units/mL)

Infusion rate (units/hr) = 11 mL/hr x 100 units/mL

Infusion rate (units/hr) = 1100 units/hr

A) 0.2 mg
The correct way to write the dosage is 0.2 mg. In pharmacology and medication administration, it is important to follow the guidelines set by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) and other standard bodies, which recommend that a leading zero be used before a decimal point. This helps to prevent errors in interpreting the dosage. Writing 0.2 mg clearly indicates two-tenths of a milligram, and the leading zero makes it easier to avoid misreading the dose as a whole number (2.0 mg) or omitting the decimal point entirely.

B) .2 mg
Writing the dosage as .2 mg (without the leading zero) is considered unsafe and is a poor practice. The absence of the leading zero before the decimal point increases the likelihood that the dose may be misread. For example, someone could confuse .2 mg with 2.0 mg or misinterpret it in a hurried situation, which could lead to a tenfold dosing error

C) 2.0 mg
Writing 2.0 mg would indicate two milligrams, which is not the correct dosage for "two-tenths of a milligram." While this format does use a decimal point, it does not represent the correct dose. This error could lead to an overdose if misread as a whole number.

D) 0.20 mg
While 0.20 mg is technically correct, it is not the preferred or necessary format. The use of two decimal places is unnecessary in this case. Since the dosage is two-tenths of a milligram, 0.2 mg is simpler and clearer. Using an unnecessary trailing zero (the second "0") can cause confusion or misinterpretation, especially in critical settings where every detail counts.