Question

You are giving Heparin IV piggyback. The doctor called & wants to decrease the rate by 100 units/hr. Heparin comes as 25,000 units in 500 mL 0.9 NS. The current rate is 26 mL/hr. What rate will the nurse set the pump?

A) 26 mL/hr
B) 24 mL/hr
C) 50 mL/hr
D) 6 mL/hr

Answer 1

The nurse should set the pump to a rate of 2 mL/hr.

Step-by-step explanation:

To find the new rate for the Heparin infusion, we need to calculate the current rate in units/hr. We know that there are 25,000 units in 500 mL of Heparin, so the concentration of the Heparin solution is 50 units/mL (25,000 units ÷ 500 mL).

Currently, the rate is 26 mL/hr. To calculate the current rate in units/hr, we can multiply the current rate (26 mL/hr) by the concentration of the Heparin solution (50 units/mL).

Current rate in units/hr = 26 mL/hr × 50 units/mL = 1300 units/hr

The doctor wants to decrease the rate by 100 units/hr. To find the new rate in mL/hr, we can divide the desired decrease in units/hr (100 units/hr) by the concentration of the Heparin solution (50 units/mL).

New rate in mL/hr = 100 units/hr ÷ 50 units/mL = 2 mL/hr

Therefore, the nurse should set the pump to a rate of 2 mL/hr.