The healthcare provider prescribes heparin 1,400 units/hour intravenously (IV). The IV bag contains heparin 20,000 units in 250 mL dextrose 5% in water. How many mL/hr should the nurse program the infusion pump to deliver? (Enter numeric value only. If rounding is required, round to the nearest whole number.)
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
To calculate the required mL/hour for the heparin infusion, we can use the following formula:
- Identify the total units of heparin per mL:
The IV bag contains 20,000 units of heparin in 250 mL. Thus, the concentration of heparin in the solution is calculated as follows:Units per mL=20,000 units250 mL=80 units/mL\text{Units per mL} = \frac{20,000 \text{ units}}{250 \text{ mL}} = 80 \text{ units/mL}Units per mL=250 mL20,000 units=80 units/mL - Determine the required mL/hour:
The provider has prescribed 1,400 units/hour. To find out how many mL of the heparin solution corresponds to this dosage, we can set up the following equation:mL/hour=Desired units/hourUnits per mL=1,400 units/hour80 units/mL\text{mL/hour} = \frac{\text{Desired units/hour}}{\text{Units per mL}} = \frac{1,400 \text{ units/hour}}{80 \text{ units/mL}}mL/hour=Units per mLDesired units/hour=80 units/mL1,400 units/hourPerforming the calculation:mL/hour=1,40080=17.5 mL/hour\text{mL/hour} = \frac{1,400}{80} = 17.5 \text{ mL/hour}mL/hour=801,400=17.5 mL/hour - Round the answer:
Since the instruction is to round to the nearest whole number, we round 17.5 to 18 mL/hour.
Therefore, the nurse should program the infusion pump to deliver 18 mL/hr.
Explanation:
This calculation is crucial for ensuring that the patient receives the correct dose of heparin to maintain therapeutic levels while minimizing the risk of complications, such as bleeding. Heparin is an anticoagulant used to prevent and treat thromboembolic disorders. Accurate dosing is vital because underdosing could lead to inadequate anticoagulation, increasing the risk of clot formation, while overdosing can elevate the risk of hemorrhage.
By understanding the concentration of the medication and the prescribed dosage, the nurse can make precise calculations to ensure patient safety. Infusion pumps are essential tools in delivering continuous IV medications at precise rates, reducing the likelihood of human error. Regular monitoring of the patient’s response to heparin and any potential side effects is also critical in nursing practice.