A healthcare provider orders nitroprusside (100 mg/1 mL) 3 mcg/kg/minute for a patient weighing 154 lb. What rate (mL/hr) should the nurse program into the IV pump?
126 mL/hr
1.26 mL/hr
1260 mL/hr
12.6 mL/hr
The Correct Answer is B
First, we need to convert the patient's weight from pounds to kilograms using the conversion factor 1 kg =
2.2 lb:
154 lb / 2.2 lb/kg = 70 kg
Next, we need to calculate the dose of nitroprusside in mcg/min using the formula Dose = Weight × Dosage:
Dose = 70 kg × 3 mcg/kg/min = 210 mcg/min
Then, we need to convert the dose of nitroprusside from mcg/min to mg/hr using the conversion factor 1 mg = 1000 mcg:
210 mcg/min × 1 mg/1000 mcg × 60 min/hr = 12.6 mg/hr
Finally, we need to calculate the rate of nitroprusside in mL/hr using the formula Rate = Dose/Concentration:
Rate = 12.6 mg/hr / 100 mg/mL = 0.126 mL/hr
To round to the nearest hundredth, we get 0.13 mL/hr, which is approximately equal to 1.26 mL/hr.
Therefore, the nurse should program the IV pump to deliver nitroprusside at a rate of 1.26 mL/hr.

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Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
The flow rate of infusion is 125 mL/hr.
This answer is correct because it is based on a simple division and rounding calculation. The nurse should follow these steps to determine the flow rate of infusion:
1) Subtract the start time of the infusion from the end time of the infusion to get the duration of the infusion in hours and minutes, as follows:
15:45 - 06:57 = 8:48
Therefore, the infusion lasted for 8 hours and 48 minutes.
2) Convert the duration of the infusion to hours only by dividing the minutes by 60, since there are 60 minutes in 1 hour. Add this to the hours, as follows:
8 + (48 / 60) = 8.8
Therefore, the infusion lasted for 8.8 hours.
3) Divide the volume of the infusion by the duration of the infusion to get the flow rate in milliliters per hour, as follows:
1000 mL / 8.8 hr = 113.64 mL/hr
Therefore, the flow rate is 113.64 mL/hr.
4) Round the flow rate to the nearest whole number, as follows:
113.64 mL/hr ≈ 114 mL/hr
Therefore, the flow rate is approximately 114 mL/hr.
5) Adjust the flow rate to a standard value that can be set on an IV pump or gravity drip chamber, as follows:
114 mL/hr → 125 mL/hr
Therefore, the flow rate of infusion is 125 mL/hr.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
To find the milliliters per minute, you need to calculate the following:
- The volume of Lopressor in milliliters
- The infusion rate in milliliters per minute using the formula: Infusion rate (mL/min) = Total volume (mL) / Time (min)
First, divide the dose of Lopressor by the concentration to get the volume in milliliters:
5 mg / 1 mg/mL = 5 mL
Next, use the formula for infusion rate to find how many milliliters per minute the IV pump should deliver:
Infusion rate (mL/min) = Total volume (mL) / Time (min)
Since the total volume is 5 mL and the time is 60 seconds or 1 minute, plug in these values into the formula:
Infusion rate (mL/min) = 5 mL / 1 min
Simplify and solve for the infusion rate:
Infusion rate (mL/min) = 5 mL/min
Therefore, the nurse should administer **5 mL/min** to infuse Lopressor 5 mg over 60 seconds.
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