Question

Ordered: 500 mL 0.45% NS with Heparin 25,000 U to infuse at 500 units/hr. What is the flow rate in mL/hr?

a. 20 mL/hr
b. 10 mL/hr
c. 15 mL/hr
d. 12 mL/hr

Answer 1

To calculate the flow rate in mL/hr, set up a proportion to find the flow rate in mL/hr: 500 units/hr = 1 mL/hr and 25,000 units/hr = x mL/hr. Solve for x to find x = 12 mL/hr. Therefore, the flow rate in mL/hr is 12 mL/hr.

Step-by-step explanation:

To calculate the flow rate in mL/hr, we need to convert the units of the ordered infu-sion rate (500 units/hr) to mL/hr. Since the number of units/hr is given and we know that 1 mL of the infusion contains 25,000 units of heparin, we can set up a proportion to find the flow rate in mL/hr:

1. 500 units/hr = 1 mL/hr
2. 25,000 units/hr = x mL/hr

By cross-multiplying and solving for x, we find that x = 12 mL/hr. Therefore, the flow rate in mL/hr is option d. 12 mL/hr.