Question

A nurse is preparing to administer dextrose 5% in water (D5W) 20 mL/kg IV to infuse over 4 hr to an adolescent who weighs 57 kg. The nurse should set the IV pump to deliver how many mL/hr?

Answer 1

The nurse should set the IV pump to deliver 285 mL/hr to administer the prescribed dosage of D5W 20 mL/kg over 4 hours for a patient weighing 57 kg.

Step-by-step explanation:

To calculate the infusion rate for a given intravenous (IV) medication, we can use the formula:

1. Calculate the total volume to be administered: Volume (mL) = Dose (mL/kg) × Weight (kg).
2. Calculate the rate of infusion: Infusion rate (mL/hr) = Total volume (mL) ÷ Infusion time (hr).

For the adolescent weighing 57 kg and prescribed D5W 20 mL/kg to infuse over 4 hours:

1. Total volume = 20 mL/kg × 57 kg = 1140 mL.
2. Infusion rate = 1140 mL ÷ 4 hr = 285 mL/hr.

To calculate the mL/hr, we need to convert the total volume (20 mL/kg) and the infusion time (4 hr) into the same unit. Since the patient's weight is given in kg, we can multiply the weight (57 kg) by the volume per kg (20 mL/kg) to find the total volume needed. In this case, 57 kg x 20 mL/kg = 1140 mL. Next, we divide the total volume by the infusion time to find the flow rate in mL/hr. In this case, 1140 mL ÷ 4 hr = 285 mL/hr.