Question

A nurse is caring for a client who has a new prescription for TPN. The client is to receive 2000 kcal per day. The TPN solution has 500 kcal/l. The IV pump should be set at how many ml/hr?

Answer 1

To administer 2000 kcal/day with a TPN solution of 500 kcal/l, the nurse should set the IV pump at a rate of 166.67 ml/hr.

Step-by-step explanation:

A nurse is caring for a client who has a new prescription for TPN (total parenteral nutrition). The client is to receive 2000 kcal per day. The TPN solution has 500 kcal/l. To calculate the rate at which the IV pump should be set in ml/hr (milliliters per hour), you first need to determine how many liters of the TPN solution are required to give the patient 2000 kcal. Since there are 500 kcal in 1 liter of the solution, you would need 4 liters to provide 2000 kcal (2000 kcal divided by 500 kcal/l). To find out the flow rate in ml/hr, convert the liters to milliliters (1 liter = 1000 milliliters), resulting in 4000 milliliters needed per day. There are 24 hours in one day, so the number of milliliters per hour can be calculated by dividing the total daily volume by 24. Consequently, the IV pump should be set at 166.67 ml/hr (4000 ml divided by 24 hours).