The order calls for the patient to receive 500 mL of intravenous (IV)fluid over 4 hours,and the nurse uses IV tubing with a drop factor at 10 gtts/mL.Which rate should the nurse use on an electronic infusion pump for IV fluids to administer this prescription?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The electronic infusion pump administers fluid in milliliters per hour; thus the nurse programs the pump to infuse 125 mL/hr.The nurse obtains the infusion rate by dividing the total volume to be infused by the number of total hours for the infusion: 500 ÷ 4 = 125.If the nurse uses gravity to administer the fluid,he or she should use the roller clamp to limit the drops per minute to 21 gtts/min by using tubing with a drop factor of 10 gtts/mL.

The Order Calls for the Patient to Receive 500 ML