Question

A patient with severe burns has crystalloid fluid replacement ordered using the Parkland formula. The initial volume of fluid to be administered in the first 24 hours is 30,000 mL. The initial rate of administration is 1875 mL/hr. After the first 8 hours, what rate should the nurse infuse the IV fluids?

a. 350 mL/hour
b. 523 mL/hour
c. 938 mL/hour
d. 1250 mL/hour

Answer 1

The nurse should infuse the IV fluids at a rate of 938 mL/hour after the first 8 hours.

Step-by-step explanation:

To calculate the rate at which the nurse should infuse the IV fluids after the first 8 hours, we can use the Parkland formula. The Parkland formula suggests that 50% of the total fluid volume should be given in the first 8 hours. Since the initial volume to be administered in the first 24 hours is 30,000 mL, 50% of this would be 15,000 mL. Therefore, the remaining volume to be administered in the next 16 hours would be 30,000 mL - 15,000 mL = 15,000 mL. To find the rate at which the nurse should infuse the IV fluids in the next 16 hours, we divide the remaining volume by the time. So, the rate would be 15,000 mL / 16 hours = 937.5 mL/hour. However, the available answer choices are not an exact match. The closest option to 937.5 mL/hour is option C, which is 938 mL/hour. So, the nurse should infuse the IV fluids at a rate of 938 mL/hour after the first 8 hours.