Question

Pitocin Practice Questions

 1. The patient is to receive Pitocin (oxytocin) at a rate of 8 milliunits per minute. The IV contains 10 units of Pitocin in 1000 ml Lactated Ringers. How many ml/hr to be set on the pump to infuse the required dose?

 2. A Pitocin drip is being started on a patient to induce labor. The order is to administer 2 milliunits/minute. The drug is supplied as 10 units mixed in 1000 ml LR. How many ml/hr should the IV infusion pump be set to deliver the correct amount of the drug?

 3. The physician ordered the Pitocin infusion to run at 16mu/min. The pharmacy sent up 10 units of Pitocin in 500mL of DSLR. You would set your pump at how many ml/hour?

 4. Pitocin is infusing at 12 ml/hr. Available is 20 units of Pitocin in 1000 ml LR. How many milliunits/min is the patient receiving?

Answer 1

Ordered Dose Pitocin At a rate of 8 milliunits per minute.

Then, Pitocin required per hour is 480 Milliunits

8 milliunits / min × 60 min =480 milliunits

IV contains ten units of Pitocin in 1000 ml RL.

1000 ml \div 10 units =100 ml / units

I.e., 100 ml per 1000 milliunits.

So,

100 ml \div 1000 mu × 480 mu=48 ml / h

The pump will be set at 48 ml per hour.