A client name Rohan with weight 65 kg with pulmonary edema is ordered heparin 10 units/kg/hr. How much units of heparin should he receive each hour?

Appeared in: Combined AIIMS - 2020 (Jodhpur, Bhopal, Patna, Raipur)

Explanation

The core task is to calculate a weight-based drug dosage.
The formula is: Total Dose = Patient's Weight (in kg) × Prescribed Dose (in units/kg/hr).
Plugging in the given values: 65 kg × 10 units/kg/hr.
The result of the multiplication is 650 units/hr.
This matches the correct option, confirming the calculation is accurate.

Option A: This value is incorrect. It may result from a calculation error, such as using an incorrect weight (e.g., 45 kg) or misreading the prescribed dose.
Option B: This value is incorrect. It likely stems from a simple mathematical error or using the wrong patient weight (e.g., 55 kg).
Option D: This value is incorrect. It is a result of a miscalculation, possibly by using an incorrect weight like 75 kg.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Drug Dosage Calculation (Weight-Based) as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Accurate dosage calculation is a critical nursing skill to prevent medication errors, which can have severe consequences, especially with high-alert drugs like heparin.
Heparin is an anticoagulant used to prevent and treat blood clots. Overdosing can lead to life-threatening bleeding, while underdosing can result in ineffective treatment and clot formation.
Nurses must always double-check calculations for high-alert medications, often with another registered nurse, to ensure patient safety.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify all the numerical values provided in the question: patient's weight (65 kg) and the prescribed dosage (10 units/kg/hr).
Next, determine what the question is asking for. Here, it's the total units of heparin per hour.
Recognize that this is a weight-based calculation. The 'per kg' in the dosage is the key clue.
Set up the multiplication: Patient's Weight × Dosage per kg.
Perform the calculation: 65 × 10 = 650.
Finally, compare your calculated answer (650 units/hr) with the given options to find the correct one.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Drug Dosage Calculation (Weight-Based)
Stem keywords: heparin, 10 units/kg/hr, 65 kg, pulmonary edema
Lead-in keywords: How much
Clinical cues: The patient has pulmonary edema, a condition that can be associated with cardiac issues requiring anticoagulation.

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E6 Medicine Harrison 22e Part 1 p. 988-990

E6 Pharmacology KD Tripathi Essentials 9e Part 2 p. 290-292

Practise the full Combined AIIMS - 2020 (Jodhpur, Bhopal, Patna, Raipur)

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.