A nurse is preparing to administer ampicillin 500 mg via intermittent IV bolus over 30 min. Available is 500 mg ampicillin in 50 mL dextrose 5% in water (DSW). The nurse should set the pump to deliver how many mL/hr?
The correct answer and Explanation is :
To calculate the rate at which the nurse should set the IV pump, we use the formula:
[
\text{Flow rate (mL/hr)} = \frac{\text{Total volume to be infused (mL)}}{\text{Time (hr)}}
]
Step-by-Step Calculation:
- Total volume to be infused: The nurse has 50 mL of ampicillin in dextrose 5% in water (D5W).
- Time: The medication is to be infused over 30 minutes. Since the flow rate is in mL per hour, we need to convert 30 minutes into hours:
[
30 \, \text{minutes} = \frac{30}{60} = 0.5 \, \text{hours}
] - Flow rate: Now, plug the values into the formula:
[
\text{Flow rate (mL/hr)} = \frac{50 \, \text{mL}}{0.5 \, \text{hours}} = 100 \, \text{mL/hr}
]
So, the nurse should set the IV pump to deliver 100 mL/hr.
Explanation:
The process of administering IV medications via a pump requires careful calculation of the flow rate to ensure that the correct dose is delivered within the specified time frame. Ampicillin in this case must be infused over 30 minutes, which is 0.5 hours. Since the total volume of the solution containing ampicillin is 50 mL, we need to ensure the IV pump delivers this volume within that 30-minute window. By dividing the volume by the time, we determine how many milliliters of the solution need to be infused per hour to achieve the desired administration rate.
This method ensures the medication is delivered correctly without under- or over-infusing, which could potentially harm the patient. Proper IV flow rate calculation is an essential nursing skill to maintain patient safety and medication effectiveness.