A nurse is preparing to administer levofloxacin 750 mg via intermittent IV infusion over 90 min to a client. Available is levofloxacin 750 mg/150 mL. How many mL/hr should the nurse set the IV pump to administer?
The correct answer and Explanation is :
To determine the IV pump rate for administering levofloxacin, follow these steps:
1. Determine the total infusion volume and time:
- Total volume to infuse: 150 mL
- Infusion time: 90 minutes
2. Convert the infusion time into hours:
- 90 minutes = 90 / 60 = 1.5 hours
3. Calculate the infusion rate in mL/hr:
- Infusion rate (mL/hr) = Total volume (mL) / Infusion time (hr)
- Infusion rate = 150 mL / 1.5 hr = 100 mL/hr
Thus, the IV pump should be set to 100 mL/hr.
Explanation:
When administering medication via IV infusion, it’s crucial to ensure the correct volume is infused over the prescribed duration to maintain therapeutic levels of the drug and avoid potential complications. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of the calculation:
- Volume and Time Determination: The levofloxacin solution is provided in a 150 mL volume, and it needs to be infused over a total of 90 minutes.
- Conversion of Time Units: Since infusion rates are typically expressed in mL/hr, convert the infusion time from minutes to hours. In this case, 90 minutes is equivalent to 1.5 hours. This conversion is necessary to align the time units with those used in the infusion rate calculation.
- Calculation of Infusion Rate: The infusion rate is found by dividing the total volume of the solution (150 mL) by the time required for infusion (1.5 hours). Performing this division yields the rate of 100 mL/hr.
Setting the IV pump to 100 mL/hr ensures that the medication is delivered at the correct rate, providing consistent therapeutic levels of levofloxacin over the specified period. Accurate administration is crucial to the effectiveness of the treatment and patient safety.