Question

The healthcare provider prescribes heparin protocol at 18 units/kg/hr for a client with a possible pulmonary embolism. This client weighs 144 pounds. The available solution is labeled heparin sodium 25,000 units in 5% dextrose 250 ml the nurse should program the pump to deliver how many ml/hr? (Enter numeric value only. If rounding is require round to the nearest whole number.)

Answer 1

To calculate the IV heparin flow rate, convert the patient's weight to kilograms, determine the units required per hour, and then calculate the volume based on the medication concentration, resulting in a pump setting of 12 mL/hr.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question pertains to calculating the correct IV pump flow rate for administering heparin. First, convert the client's weight from pounds to kilograms by dividing by 2.2 pounds/kg, which yields approximately 65.45 kg. Next, calculate the total heparin units required per hour using the prescribed 18 units/kg/hr rate, which results in 1178.1 units/hr. To find the volume of solution needed per hour, divide the total units required by the concentration of the solution (25,000 units/250 mL), giving approximately 11.781 mL/hr. Rounding to the nearest whole number, the nurse should program the pump to deliver 12 mL/hr of heparin solution.