Question

Compute the average hourly urinary output in each of the following situations (round to nearest whole number). \(700 \mathrm{~mL}\) in \(8 \mathrm{hr}\)

Short answer

88 mL per hour.

Step-by-step solution

Identify Total Urinary Output

The total urinary output is provided in the problem statement as 700 mL.

Identify Time Period

The total time period over which the urinary output is measured is 8 hours.

Calculate Average Hourly Urinary Output

To find the average hourly urinary output, divide the total urinary output by the number of hours. Use the formula: \[ \frac{\text{Total Urinary Output}}{\text{Number of Hours}} = \frac{700 \text{ mL}}{8 \text{ hours}} \approx 87.5 \text{ mL per hour} \].

Round to Nearest Whole Number

Round the result from step 3 to the nearest whole number. Thus, 87.5 mL rounds to 88 mL.

Key concepts

Understanding Urinary Output

Urinary output refers to the amount of urine produced by the kidneys over a specific period. It is a key indicator of kidney function and hydration status. For healthcare professionals, monitoring urinary output helps assess the fluid balance of patients, detect potential kidney issues, and determine adequate fluid therapy. Urinary output is typically measured in milliliters (mL) over a certain duration. Understanding how to accurately calculate and interpret urinary output is crucial in the field of nursing.

Importance of Hourly Calculation

Hourly calculations are critical for understanding how evenly a patient outputs urine over a specific period. This is particularly important in acute healthcare settings where precise monitoring can guide treatment decisions.
To perform an hourly calculation, a simple division is used. You take the total urine produced over a time period and divide it by the total number of hours. From the example provided, 700 mL divided by 8 hours gives an average, facilitating easy tracking and management by healthcare providers.

Application of Medical Mathematics

Medical mathematics allows healthcare practitioners to calculate various health-related formulas, essential for appropriate care. It involves using numerical data to derive meaningful and actionable healthcare insights.
For nursing calculations specifically, it's critical to integrate mathematical principles with clinical care to maintain patient safety, administer correct dosages, and monitor patient vitals accurately. In the context of urinary output calculation, mathematics helps ensure that nursing staff can reliably calculate fluid balances and other crucial outputs to inform patient care.

Precision through Rounding Numbers

Rounding numbers is an important aspect of making data more manageable and easier to interpret quickly. In medical settings, especially where treatment decisions could be rapidly needed, rounding to the nearest whole number simplifies complex figures while still ensuring accuracy.

• In the example calculation, the result of 87.5 mL was rounded to 88 mL.
• This allows nurses to efficiently keep track without compromising significant accuracy in records.

While rounding, it is key to follow standard rounding rules, ensuring uniformity and reliability in medical documentation.