Question

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

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

Answer 1

To adjust the heparin IV infusion rate after a decrease of 100 units per hour, calculate the new units to be delivered and convert it to the corresponding volume. The closest correct pump rate setting is 24 mL/hr.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student asked how to adjust the IV infusion rate for heparin after the doctor requested to decrease the rate by 100 units per hour. Heparin is currently available at a concentration of 25,000 units in 500mL of 0.9% Normal Saline (NS), and the current infusion rate is 26mL per hour.

To calculate the new rate, you need to determine the infusion rate that would deliver 100 units less of heparin per hour. The current infusion rate of 26mL per hour delivers (26000 units/500mL) * 26mL/hr = 1,360 units/hr. Reducing this by 100 units/hr gives 1,260 units/hr. To find the new rate in mL/hr, use the formula: (500mL/25000 units) * 1,260 units/hr = 25.2 mL/hr. Given the options, the closest rate you can set on the pump is 24 mL/hr as pumps do not typically allow decimals.