A nurse is to administer a 500ml bolus of normal saline to a patient over 1 hour? How many ml/hr will the pump be set at?
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
To administer a 500 ml bolus of normal saline over 1 hour, the nurse must set the infusion pump to deliver a specific rate of fluid. Here’s the step-by-step calculation and explanation:
- Determine the Total Volume to Be Infused: The total volume of normal saline to be administered is 500 ml.
- Determine the Infusion Time: The infusion time is 1 hour.
- Calculate the Infusion Rate: The infusion rate can be determined using the formula:Infusion Rate (ml/hr)=Total Volume (ml)Total Time (hours)\text{Infusion Rate (ml/hr)} = \frac{\text{Total Volume (ml)}}{\text{Total Time (hours)}}Infusion Rate (ml/hr)=Total Time (hours)Total Volume (ml)Substituting the given values:Infusion Rate=500 ml1 hour=500 ml/hr\text{Infusion Rate} = \frac{500 \text{ ml}}{1 \text{ hour}} = 500 \text{ ml/hr}Infusion Rate=1 hour500 ml=500 ml/hr
So, the infusion pump should be set to deliver at a rate of 500 ml/hr.
Detailed Explanation
Infusion pumps are critical tools in nursing for delivering precise amounts of fluids, medications, and nutrients over specified periods. The rate at which the infusion pump is set is crucial for ensuring that the patient receives the correct amount of fluid at the intended rate.
For this scenario, the nurse needs to administer a bolus of 500 ml of normal saline over a duration of 1 hour. The term “bolus” refers to a large dose of fluid given rapidly over a short period, which in this case is 1 hour.
The calculation of the infusion rate involves dividing the total volume of fluid by the total time required for the infusion. This gives the rate at which the infusion pump should be set to ensure that the entire volume is delivered within the allotted time.
In this case, since the total volume is 500 ml and the infusion time is 1 hour, the calculation is straightforward:Infusion Rate=500 ml1 hour=500 ml/hr\text{Infusion Rate} = \frac{500 \text{ ml}}{1 \text{ hour}} = 500 \text{ ml/hr}Infusion Rate=1 hour500 ml=500 ml/hr
This result means the infusion pump should be set to 500 ml/hr to deliver the entire 500 ml bolus of normal saline in exactly 1 hour. Properly setting the infusion rate helps in maintaining accurate fluid balance and achieving the desired therapeutic outcomes.