Ch. 23 - Heparin - Ch 23 Heparin Calculations High-alert...

Ch. 23 → Heparin Calculations
 High-alert medication
 Heparin doses are expressed in USP units
 Based on kg weight
 Administered IV or subcutaneously
 Ordered units/hr or mL/hr (IV = units/hr)
o Delivered with infusion pump
 Heparin flush dose is usually 10 units/mL and NEVER exceeds 100 units/mL
 Heparin sodium for injection and heparin lock flush solution can NEVER be used
interchangeably
 Heparin MUST be double-checked by another nurse
 Obtain independent verification of the dosage to ensure accuracy
Calculating Subcutaneous Dosages
 Tuberculin syringe is used with subcutaneous injections
o Calibrated in tenths and hundredths of a mL)
o Dosages never rounded to nearest tenth
Calculating IV Heparin Solutions
 Calculating the rate in units/hr can be done by using ratio and proportion or formula
Example: An IV solution of heparin is ordered for a client. D5W 1,000mL containing 20,000 units of
heparin is to infuse at 30mL/hr. Calculate the dosage of heparin the client is to receive per hour.