A nurse is preparing to administer potassium chloride 10 mEq IV over 1 hr to a client. Available in potassium chloride 10 mEq in 100 mL of 0.9% sodium chloride. The nurse should set the infusion pump to deliver how many mL/hr? (Round the answer to the nearest whole number. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.).
A.
10 mL/hr.
B.
50 mL/hr.
C.
100 mL/hr.
D.
500 mL/hr.
The correct answer and Explanation is :
To determine the infusion rate for administering potassium chloride, follow these steps:
- Identify the total volume of the solution: The potassium chloride solution is provided as 100 mL of 0.9% sodium chloride containing 10 mEq of potassium chloride.
- Determine the desired infusion time: The medication needs to be infused over 1 hour.
- Calculate the infusion rate: The infusion rate is calculated by dividing the total volume of the solution by the infusion time.
- Total volume: 100 mL
- Infusion time: 1 hour The formula for infusion rate is: [
\text{Infusion Rate} = \frac{\text{Total Volume}}{\text{Infusion Time}}
] Substituting the values: [
\text{Infusion Rate} = \frac{100 \text{ mL}}{1 \text{ hr}} = 100 \text{ mL/hr}
]
- Round the result to the nearest whole number: The result is already a whole number, so no further rounding is needed.
Thus, the nurse should set the infusion pump to deliver 100 mL/hr.
Explanation:
When administering intravenous medications, it’s crucial to ensure that the correct volume of solution is infused over the prescribed time to achieve the desired therapeutic effect while minimizing potential side effects. In this scenario, the nurse needs to administer 10 mEq of potassium chloride in a total volume of 100 mL over the course of 1 hour. By setting the infusion pump to deliver 100 mL/hr, the nurse ensures that the entire volume of the solution will be infused within the allotted time frame, adhering to the prescribed medication regimen. This calculation is fundamental in maintaining patient safety and ensuring effective treatment.