Question

A client is receiving an IV solution of nitroglycerin 100mg/500ml D5W at 10 mcg/ minute. The nurse should program the infusion pump to deliver how many ml/hour? ( Enter numeric value only)

Answer 1

The nurse should program the infusion pump to deliver 3 mL/hr to administer a nitroglycerin IV solution at the ordered rate of 10 mcg/min.

Step-by-step explanation:

To calculate the infusion rate in milliliters per hour (mL/hr) for a nitroglycerin IV solution being administered at 10 micrograms per minute (mcg/min), we need to use the following details: the concentration of the IV solution, which is 100 milligrams (mg) in 500 milliliters (mL) of D5W, and the desired dose rate, which is 10 mcg/min.

1. First, we will convert the concentration from mg to mcg because the desired dose rate is in mcg/min:
   100 mg = 100,000 mcg.
2. Next, we find out how many mcg are in 1 mL of the IV solution:
   100,000 mcg / 500 mL = 200 mcg/mL.
3. Now, to get 10 mcg/min, we calculate the necessary volume:
   10 mcg/min / 200 mcg/mL = 0.05 mL/min.
4. To find mL/hr, multiply the mL/min by 60 minutes:
   0.05 mL/min × 60 min/hr = 3 mL/hr.

The nurse should program the infusion pump to deliver 3 mL/hr.