A client is receiving a liter of 0.9% normal saline solution to be administered over 12 hours. The nurse should set the infusion pump to infuse how many ml per hour? (Enter numeric value only. If rounding to the nearest whole number)
The correct answer and Explanation is :
To determine the infusion rate in ml per hour, use the following formula:
[ \text{Infusion Rate (ml/hr)} = \frac{\text{Total Volume (ml)}}{\text{Total Time (hours)}} ]
Given:
- Total Volume = 1 liter = 1000 ml
- Total Time = 12 hours
Substitute these values into the formula:
[ \text{Infusion Rate} = \frac{1000 \, \text{ml}}{12 \, \text{hours}} \approx 83.33 \, \text{ml/hr} ]
When rounding to the nearest whole number:
[ \text{Infusion Rate} \approx 83 \, \text{ml/hr} ]
So, the infusion pump should be set to infuse at 83 ml per hour.
Explanation:
To administer a liter of 0.9% normal saline solution over a period of 12 hours, it is essential to calculate the correct infusion rate to ensure the fluid is delivered at the appropriate pace. This calculation is straightforward: divide the total volume of the solution by the total duration of the infusion.
- Total Volume: The solution volume is 1 liter, which is equivalent to 1000 milliliters (ml).
- Total Time: The infusion time specified is 12 hours.
- Infusion Rate Calculation: By dividing the total volume (1000 ml) by the total time (12 hours), you get the infusion rate in ml per hour. This calculation gives you approximately 83.33 ml per hour.
- Rounding: When the result is not a whole number, you round to the nearest whole number. In this case, 83.33 rounds to 83.
Setting the infusion pump to this rate ensures that the client receives the correct volume of fluid over the specified time, maintaining proper hydration and fluid balance as ordered by the healthcare provider. Accurate infusion rates are critical to prevent complications such as fluid overload or dehydration.