Question 1

The physician ordered heparin 1200 units/hour. Heparin is available as 40,000 units in 1000 mL D5W. What is the correct IV flow rate in milliliters per hour?
A) 10
B) 20
C) 30
D) 40

Accepted Answer

When solving any problem, first check that the order and the supply are in the same weight measure. For this problem, no equivalent is necessary. To add medications to a continuous IV, you would estimate the amount to give using the same calculation methods that are used for preparing liquids for injection as covered in Chapter 5. Estimate the amount to give. Formula Method: 1200 units/40,000 units * 1000 mL = 1,200,000/40,000 = 30 mL/hour. Proportion (Ratios): 1000 mL : 40,000 units :: x mL : 1200 units; 40,000x = 1,200,000/40,000 = 30 mL/hour. Proportion (Fractions): x mL/1200 units = 1000 mL/40,000 units; 40,000x = 1,200,000/40,000 = 30 mL/hour. Dimensional Analysis: 1000 mL/40,000 units * 1200 units/1 hr = 1000 mL * 1200/40,000 * 1 hour = 1,200,000/40,000 = 30 mL/hour.

Question 2

The physician ordered 15 units of Pitocin in 500 mL of D5W. It is to infuse at 2 milliunits/minute per infusion pump. What is the correct IV rate in milliliters per hour? Round to the nearest whole number.
A) 1
B) 2
C) 3
D) 4

Accepted Answer

When solving any problem, first check that the order and the supply are in the same weight measure. For this problem, an equivalent is necessary. This is a multi-step problem. First, reduce the numbers in the standard solution to units per milliliter: 15 units/500 mL = 0.03 units/1 mL. Then, change units to milliunits: 0.03 units/mL *1000 = 30 milliunits/mL (1 unit = 1000 milliunits). Next, divide by 60 to get milliunits per minute: 30 milliunits/mL ÷ 60 minutes = 0.5 milliunits/minute. Round to the nearest whole number. Solve for milliliters per hour. Estimate the amount to give. Formula Method: 2 milliunits/minute ÷ 0.5 milliunits/minute *1 mL = 2/0.5 = 20/5 = 4 mL/hour. Proportion (Ratios): 1 mL : 0.5 milliunits :: x mL : 2 milliunits; 0.5x = 2/0.5 = 20/5 = 4 mL/hour. Proportion (Fractions): 1 mL/0.5 milliunits = x mL/2 milliunits; 0.5x = 2/0.5 = 20/5 = 4 mL/hour. Use two conversion factors for dimensional analysis. Dimensional Analysis: 500 mL/15 units * 2 milliunits/minute * 60 minutes/1 hour * 1 unit/1000 milliunits = 500 mL * 2 * 60 * 1/15 *1 hour * 1000 = 60,000/15,000 = 4 mL/hour.

Question 3

A physician ordered Cerubidine (daunorubicin), 40 mg/m², in 100 mL D5W, over 1 hour. The patient/client's height is 140 cm, and he weighs 100 lb. How many milligrams should be added to the IV piggyback line? A) 52 B) 56 C) 62 D) 66

Accepted Answer

Calculate the body surface area (BSA) using the nomogram on page 277 in the textbook. Using a ruler, draw a line from the patient/client's height of 140 cm to his weight of 100 lb. This gives a BSA of 1.4 m². Estimate the amount to give by multiplying: 40 mg/m² *1.4 m² = 56 mg. Label the IV solution of D5W with 56 mg of Cerubidine. Set the infusion pump at 100 mL/hour.

Question 4

A patient/client weighs 152 lb. Available is 20,000 units of heparin in 1000 mL of D5W. The physician orders the following: heparin sodium IV bolus of 40 units/kg and start the drip at 10 units/kg/hour. What is the correct IV rate in milliliter per hour? Round to the nearest whole number.
A) 20
B) 25
C) 30
D) 35

Accepted Answer

When solving any problem, first check that the order and the supply are in the same weight measure. Begin by converting pounds to kilograms (1 kg = 2.2 lb): 152 lb/2.2 = 69 kg. Determine the bolus dose: 69 kg * 10 units/kg/hour = 690 units/hour. Estimate the amount to give. Round to the nearest whole number. Formula Method: 690 units/hour/20,000 units *1000 mL = 34.5 mL/hour = 35 mL/hour. Proportion (Ratios): 1000 mL : 20,000 units :: x mL : 690 units; 20,000x = 690,000/20,000 = 35 mL/hour. Proportion (Fractions): 1000 mL/20,000 units = x mL/690 units; 20,000x = 690,000/20,000 = 35 mL/hour. Use a conversion factor for dimensional analysis. Dimensional Analysis: 1000 mL/20,000 units *10 units/kg/hour *152 lb * 1 kg/2.2 lb = 1,520,000/44,000 = 35 mL/hour.

Question 5

The physician ordered 80 units of regular insulin in 250 mL of NS. It is to infuse at 10 units/hour per infusion pump. What is the correct IV rate in milliliters per hour? Round to the nearest whole number.
A) 21
B) 28
C) 31
D) 38

Accepted Answer

When solving any problem, first check that the order and the supply are in the same weight measure. For this problem, no equivalent is necessary. Estimate the amount to give. Round to the nearest whole number. Formula Method: 10 units/hour/80 units *250 mL = 31.25 mL/hour = 31 mL/hour. Proportion (Ratios): 250 mL : 80 units :: x mL : 10 units; 80x = 2500/80 = 31 mL/hour. Proportion (Fractions): 250 mL/80 units = x mL/10 units; 80x = 2500/80 = 31 mL/hour. Dimensional Analysis: 250 mL/80 units * 10 units/1 hour = 250 mL *10/80 = 31 mL/hour.

Question 6

The physician ordered Lasix (furosemide) 100 mg in 250 mL of D5W. It is to infuse at 6 mg/hour per infusion pump. How many hours will the IV run? Round to the nearest hour.
A) 17
B) 4
C) 8
D) 10

Accepted Answer

When solving any problem, first check that the order and the supply are in the same weight measure. For this problem, no equivalent is necessary. This is a two-part problem. First, calculate milliliters per hour, then calculate the number of hours using this formula: Number of milliliters/Number of milliliters per hour = Hours. Estimate the amount to give. Formula Method: 6 mg/100 mg × 250 mL = 1,500/100 = 15 mL/hour. Proportion (Ratios): 250 mL : 100 mg :: x mL : 6 mg; 100x = 1,500/100 = 15 mL/hour. Proportion (Fractions): 250 mL/100 mg = x mL/6 mg; 100x =1,500/100 = 15 mL/hour. Dimensional Analysis: 250 mL/100 mg × 6 mg/1 hour = 250 mL × 6/100 × 1 hour = 1500/100 = 15 mL/hour. Now calculate the number of hours. Number of milliliters/Number of milliliters per hour = Hours. Therefore, 250 mL/15 mL/hour = 16.67 hours. Round to the nearest hour: 17 hours.

Question 7

The physician ordered Aramine (metaraminol) 50 mg in 250 mL of D5W. It is to infuse at 50 mcg/minute per infusion pump. What is the correct IV rate in milliliters per hour? Round to the nearest whole number.
A) 10
B) 15
C) 20
D) 25

Accepted Answer

When solving any problem, first check that the order and the supply are in the same weight measure. For this problem, an equivalent is necessary. This is a multi-step problem. First, reduce the numbers in the standard solution to milligrams per milliliter: 50 mg/250 mL = 0.2 mg/mL. Next, change 0.2 mg to 200 mcg. Divide by 60 minutes to get micrograms per minute: 200 mcg/60 minutes = 3.33 mcg/minute. Estimate the amount to give. Round to the nearest whole number. Formula Method: 50 mcg/minute ÷ 3.33 mcg/minute * 1 mL = 15 mL/hour. Proportion (Ratios): 1 mL : 3.33 mcg :: x mL : 50 mcg; 3.33x = 50 mcg/3.33 mcg = 15 mL/hour. Proportion (Fractions): 1 mL/3.33 mcg = x mL/50 mg; 3.33x = 50 mcg/3.33 mcg = 15 mL/hour. Use two conversion factors for dimensional analysis. Dimensional Analysis: 250 mL/50 mg * 50 mcg/1 minute * 60 minutes/1 hour* 1 mg/1000 mcg; 250 mL *50* 60 * 1/50 * 1 * 1 hour*1000 = 750,000/50,000 = 15 mL/hour.

Question 8

The physician ordered 100 mg of nitroglycerin in 250 mL of D5W. It is to infuse at 15 mcg/minute per infusion pump. What is the correct IV rate in milliliters per hour? Round to the nearest whole number.
A) 2
B) 3
C) 4
D) 5

Accepted Answer

When solving any problem, first check that the order and the supply are in the same weight measure. For this problem, an equivalent is necessary. This is a multi-step problem. First, determine how many micrograms per minute to infuse based on the patient/client's weight. Multiply: 70 kg * 4mcg/minute = 280 mcg/minute. Next, reduce the numbers in the standard solution to milligrams per milliliter: 400 mg/250 mL = 1.6 mg/1 mL. Then, change milligrams to micrograms: 1.6 mg/mL = 1600 mcg/mL (1 mg = 1000 mcg). Divide by 60 to get micrograms per minute: 1600 mcg/60 minutes = 26.66 mcg/minute. Estimate the amount to give. Round to the nearest whole number. Formula Method: 280 mcg/minute ÷ 26.66 mcg/minute * 1 mL = 10.5 mL/hour = 11 mL/hour. Proportion (Ratios): 1 mL : 26.66 mcg :: x mL : 280 mcg; 26.66x = 280/26.66 = 11 mL. Proportion (Fractions): 1 mL/26.66 mcg = x mL/280 mcg; 26.66x = 280/26.66 = 11 mL. Use two conversion factors for dimensional analysis. Dimensional Analysis: 250 mL/400 mg *280 mcg/1 minute * 60 minutes/1 hour * 1 mg/1000 mcg = 250 mL * 280 *60 * 1/ 400 * 1 hour * 1000 = 4,200,000/400,000 = 11 mL/hour.

Question 9

The physician ordered 60 units of regular insulin in 100 mL of NS. It is to infuse at 15 units/hour per infusion pump. What is the correct IV rate in milliliters per hour? Round to the nearest whole number.
A) 18
B) 21
C) 25
D) 31

Accepted Answer

When solving any problem, first check that the order and the supply are in the same weight measure. For this problem, no equivalent is necessary. Estimate the amount to give. Round to the nearest whole number. Formula Method: 15 units/hour/60 units *100 mL = 25 mL/hour. Proportion (Ratios): 100 mL : 60 units :: x mL : 15 units; 60x = 1500/60 = 25 mL/hour. Proportion (Fractions): 100 mL/60 units = x mL/15 units; 60x = 1500/60 = 25 mL/hour. Dimensional Analysis: 100 mL/60 units * 15 units/1 hour = 100 mL * 15/60 = 25 mL/hour.

Quiz 7: Special Types of IV Calculations

The physician ordered heparin 1200 units/hour. Heparin is available as 40,000 units in 1000 mL D5W. What is the correct IV flow rate in milliliters per hour?

The physician ordered 15 units of Pitocin in 500 mL of D5W. It is to infuse at 2 milliunits/minute per infusion pump. What is the correct IV rate in milliliters per hour? Round to the nearest whole number.

A physician ordered Cerubidine (daunorubicin) , 40 mg/m², in 100 mL D5W, over 1 hour. The patient/client's height is 140 cm, and he weighs 100 lb. How many milligrams should be added to the IV piggyback line?

A patient/client weighs 152 lb. Available is 20,000 units of heparin in 1000 mL of D5W. The physician orders the following: heparin sodium IV bolus of 40 units/kg and start the drip at 10 units/kg/hour. What is the correct IV rate in milliliter per hour? Round to the nearest whole number.

The physician ordered 80 units of regular insulin in 250 mL of NS. It is to infuse at 10 units/hour per infusion pump. What is the correct IV rate in milliliters per hour? Round to the nearest whole number.

The physician ordered Lasix (furosemide) 100 mg in 250 mL of D5W. It is to infuse at 6 mg/hour per infusion pump. How many hours will the IV run? Round to the nearest hour.

The physician ordered Aramine (metaraminol) 50 mg in 250 mL of D5W. It is to infuse at 50 mcg/minute per infusion pump. What is the correct IV rate in milliliters per hour? Round to the nearest whole number.

The physician ordered 100 mg of nitroglycerin in 250 mL of D5W. It is to infuse at 15 mcg/minute per infusion pump. What is the correct IV rate in milliliters per hour? Round to the nearest whole number.

The physician ordered 60 units of regular insulin in 100 mL of NS. It is to infuse at 15 units/hour per infusion pump. What is the correct IV rate in milliliters per hour? Round to the nearest whole number.