Final Answer:
To calculate the flow rate for administering 160 ml of D5W IV over 30 minutes, the formula for flow rate (FR) is used:
FR = Volume / Time.
Plugging in the values, the flow rate is 160 ml / 30 min, which equals 5.3 ml/min.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine the flow rate for administering 160 ml of D5W IV over 30 minutes, we apply the formula for flow rate, which is FR = Volume / Time. In this case, the volume (Volume) is 160 ml, and the time (Time) is 30 minutes. Plugging in these values, we get FR = 160 ml / 30 min. Calculating this, we find the flow rate is 5.3 ml/min.
Maintaining precision in medication administration is crucial for patient safety. In this context, the flow rate represents the rate at which the intravenous solution should be delivered to ensure the correct dosage over the specified time frame. For nurses and healthcare professionals programming IV infusion pumps, accurately calculating the flow rate is essential to prevent under- or over-administration of medications, which could have serious consequences for the patient.
In conclusion, the calculated flow rate for administering 160 ml of D5W IV over 30 minutes is 5.3 ml/min. This result is obtained by applying the fundamental formula for flow rate, emphasizing the importance of precision in medication calculations for the safe and effective delivery of intravenous therapies.