Formula sheets, the key method steps for every topic and 6 practice problems, with full solutions at the back.
A woman with pre-existing type 1 diabetes is pregnant. How do her insulin needs usually change?
A woman in labour has a breech presentation and her membranes rupture. What should the nurse check first?
A patient weighs 45 kg. The prescribed dose is 10 mg/kg per day, given in 3 equal doses. How many milligrams D are given per dose?
An infusion contains 40000 units of a drug in 500 mL. The prescription is 1200 units per hour. At what rate R do you set the pump, in mL/h?
Infuse 250 mL over 3 hours with a giving set of 20 gtt/mL. Find the drip rate R in drops per minute. Round to the nearest whole number.
A bag contains 1000 mg of a drug in 50 mL and runs at 8 mL/h. How many milligrams per hour D does the patient receive?
Answer: D · They often fall early on and then rise later in pregnancy
In early pregnancy, nausea and increased insulin sensitivity can lower insulin needs and raise the risk of hypoglycaemia. Insulin resistance from placental hormones then raises needs markedly in the second and third trimesters.
Answer: D · The fetal heart rate and for cord prolapse
In breech presentations, the presenting part fits the pelvis less snugly, so cord prolapse is more likely after rupture of the membranes. The fetal heart rate is checked immediately and a vaginal examination done if indicated.
Answer: D = 150 mg
Dose calculation: the amount to give equals what is prescribed divided by what you have, times the quantity it comes in: amount = (desired dose/stock strength) × stock volume. Always keep the units the same (convert g to mg, mg to mcg first) and check that the answer is sensible.
Answer: R = 15 mL/h
Dose calculation: the amount to give equals what is prescribed divided by what you have, times the quantity it comes in: amount = (desired dose/stock strength) × stock volume. Always keep the units the same (convert g to mg, mg to mcg first) and check that the answer is sensible.
Answer: R = 28 gtt/min
Infusion rates: a pump is set in mL/h = volume/time in hours. A gravity drip is counted in drops per minute: gtt/min = volume (mL) × drop factor (gtt/mL)/time (min). The drop factor is printed on the tubing package: macrodrip sets deliver 10, 15 or 20 gtt/mL (blood sets often 10 gtt/mL in the US, 15 in the UK) and microdrip sets 60 gtt/mL. Always use the drop factor the question or package gives.
At the bedside you round to the nearest whole drop: 28 gtt/min.
Answer: D = 160 mg/h
Infusion rates: a pump is set in mL/h = volume/time in hours. A gravity drip is counted in drops per minute: gtt/min = volume (mL) × drop factor (gtt/mL)/time (min). The drop factor is printed on the tubing package: macrodrip sets deliver 10, 15 or 20 gtt/mL (blood sets often 10 gtt/mL in the US, 15 in the UK) and microdrip sets 60 gtt/mL. Always use the drop factor the question or package gives.
ExamProblems · examproblems.com/courses/maternity-nursing