Answers With Complete Solutions
Course
Critical Care Paramedic
1. Drug Dosage Calculation
Question:
A doctor orders 250 mg of a medication. The vial you have contains 500 mg/2 mL. How many
mL should you administer?
Solution:
Use the formula:
Dose to Give=(Desired DoseAvailable Dose)×Available Volume\text{Dose to Give} = \left( \frac{\
text{Desired Dose}}{\text{Available Dose}} \right) \times \text{Available
Volume}Dose to Give=(Available DoseDesired Dose)×Available Volume
Dose to Give=(250mg500mg)×2mL\text{Dose to Give} = \left( \frac{250 mg}{500 mg} \right) \
times 2 mLDose to Give=(500mg250mg)×2mL =0.5×2=1mL= 0.5 \times 2 = \mathbf{1
mL}=0.5×2=1mL
✅ Administer 1 mL.
2. IV Drip Rate Calculation
Question:
You need to administer 1,000 mL of Normal Saline over 4 hours using a 10 gtt/mL drip set. What
is the drip rate (gtt/min)?
Solution:
Use the formula:
Drip Rate=(Total Volume (mL)×Drop Factor (gtt/mL)Time (min))\text{Drip Rate} = \left( \frac{\
text{Total Volume (mL)} \times \text{Drop Factor (gtt/mL)}}{\text{Time (min)}} \
right)Drip Rate=(Time (min)Total Volume (mL)×Drop Factor (gtt/mL)) =(1000×104×60)= \left( \
frac{1000 \times 10}{4 \times 60} \right)=(4×601000×10) =(10,000240)=41.67≈42gtt/min= \
left( \frac{10,000}{240} \right) = \mathbf{41.67} \approx \mathbf{42 gtt/min}=(24010,000
)=41.67≈42gtt/min
✅ Set the IV at 42 gtt/min.
,3. Dopamine Infusion Calculation
Question:
A patient requires 5 mcg/kg/min of dopamine. The patient weighs 70 kg, and you have 400 mg
in 250 mL D5W. What is the mL/hr rate?
Solution:
First, calculate the total drug concentration:
400mg250mL=1.6mg/mL\frac{400 mg}{250 mL} = 1.6 mg/mL250mL400mg=1.6mg/mL
Convert mg to mcg:
1.6mg/mL=1600mcg/mL1.6 mg/mL = 1600 mcg/mL1.6mg/mL=1600mcg/mL
Calculate required dose per minute:
5×70=350mcg/min5 \times 70 = 350 mcg/min5×70=350mcg/min
Find mL/min:
3501600=0.21875 mL/min\frac{350}{1600} = 0.21875 \text{ mL/min}1600350=0.21875 mL/min
Convert to mL/hr:
0.21875×60=13.1≈13mL/hr0.21875 \times 60 = \mathbf{13.1} \approx \mathbf{13
mL/hr}0.21875×60=13.1≈13mL/hr
✅ Set the pump to 13 mL/hr.
4. Weight-Based Medication Dosage
Question:
You need to give 0.1 mg/kg of a medication to a 90 kg patient. The vial contains 4 mg/mL. How
many mL should you administer?
Solution:
Calculate total dose:
0.1mg×90=9mg0.1 mg \times 90 = 9 mg0.1mg×90=9mg
Find mL needed:
9mg4mg/mL=2.25mL\frac{9 mg}{4 mg/mL} = \mathbf{2.25 mL}4mg/mL9mg=2.25mL
✅ Administer 2.25 mL.
,5. Oxygen Cylinder Duration
Question:
An E-cylinder has 1,500 psi remaining, with a flow rate of 10 L/min. How long will the oxygen
last? (E-cylinder factor = 0.28).
Solution:
Use the formula:
Duration (min)=PSI×Tank FactorFlow Rate (L/min)\text{Duration (min)} = \frac{\text{PSI} \times \
text{Tank Factor}}{\text{Flow Rate (L/min)}}Duration (min)=Flow Rate (L/min)PSI×Tank Factor
=1500×0.2810= \frac{1500 \times 0.28}{10}=101500×0.28 =42010=42 min= \frac{420}{10} = \
mathbf{42} \text{ min}=10420=42 min
✅ Oxygen will last 42 minutes.
6. Pediatric Fluid Resuscitation (4-2-1 Rule)
Question:
Calculate the hourly maintenance fluid rate for a 22 kg child using the 4-2-1 rule.
Solution:
4-2-1 Rule:
First 10 kg → 4 mL/kg/hr
Next 10 kg → 2 mL/kg/hr
Remaining kg → 1 mL/kg/hr
Break it down:
(10×4)+(10×2)+(2×1)(10 \times 4) + (10 \times 2) + (2 \times 1)(10×4)+(10×2)+(2×1)
=40+20+2=62mL/hr= 40 + 20 + 2 = \mathbf{62 mL/hr}=40+20+2=62mL/hr
✅ Give 62 mL/hr.
7. Amiodarone Bolus Calculation
Question:
A patient needs 150 mg of amiodarone over 10 minutes. The vial contains 50 mg/mL. How
much do you dilute in a 100 mL bag, and what is the rate (mL/min)?
, Solution:
Dose: 150 mg
Concentration: 50 mg/mL
Volume Needed: 150mg50mg/mL=3mL\frac{150 mg}{50 mg/mL} = 3
mL50mg/mL150mg=3mL
Dilute in 100 mL bag → Total volume = 103 mL
Rate: 103mL10 min=10.3mL/min\frac{103 mL}{10 \text{ min}} = \mathbf{10.3
mL/min}10 min103mL=10.3mL/min
✅ Infuse at 10.3 mL/min.
8. Epinephrine 1:10,000 Cardiac Arrest Dose
Question:
How many mL of Epinephrine 1:10,000 should you give in a cardiac arrest?
Solution:
Standard dose = 1 mg IV every 3–5 min
Epi 1:10,000 contains 1 mg per 10 mL
Administer 10 mL IV push
✅ Give 10 mL IV push.
9. Parkland Burn Formula for Fluid Resuscitation
Question:
A 70 kg patient has 40% total body surface area (TBSA) burns. Calculate the total 24-hour fluid
volume using the Parkland formula.
Solution:
Parkland Formula:
\text{Fluid (mL)} = 4 mL \times \text{TBSA%} \times \text{Weight (kg)} =4×40×70= 4 \times 40 \
times 70=4×40×70 =11,200 mL (total for 24 hrs)= 11,200 \text{ mL (total for 24
hrs)}=11,200 mL (total for 24 hrs)
First 8 hours: