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Nitroglycerin 125 mg diluted in 500 mL of D5W (dextrose 5% in water) is infusing at a rate of 42 mcg/minute for a patient with chest pain.
What rate (in mL/hr) should the nurse program into the IV pump to deliver this dose? Round your answer to the nearest tenth.

A.

6.5 mL/hr

B.

9.6 mL/hr

C.

10.1 mL/hr

D.

14.8 mL/hr

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is A

To find the rate in mL/hr, you need to calculate the following:
 
-    The concentration of nitroglycerin in the IV solution in mcg/mL
-    The infusion rate in mL/hr using the formula: Infusion rate (mL/h) = (Dose (mcg/min) x 60 min/h) / Concentration (mcg/mL)

First, convert the concentration of nitroglycerin from mg to mcg by multiplying by 1000:

125 mg x 1000 = 125,000 mcg

Then, divide the amount of nitroglycerin by the volume of the IV solution to get the concentration in mcg/mL:

125,000 mcg / 500 mL = 250 mcg/mL

Next, plug in the values into the formula for infusion rate:

Infusion rate (mL/h) = (42 mcg/min x 60 min/h) / 250 mcg/mL

Simplify and solve for the infusion rate:

Infusion rate (mL/h) = 10.08 mL/h

Therefore, the nurse should program the IV pump to deliver **10.1 mL/h** to infuse nitroglycerin at 42 mcg/minute.


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Related Questions

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

This answer is correct because BSA is the most accurate method for calculating the child's dose from the adult dose¹². BSA takes into account the child's weight and height, and reflects the physiological function and organ growth of the child beter than weight alone¹. BSA can be calculated using a nomogram or a formula based on the child's weight and height¹. The child's dose can then be calculated by multiplying the adult dose by the ratio of the child's BSA to the average adult BSA (1.73 m2)¹. For example:

Child dose by BSA = (mg/day) = Adult Dose in mg/day x BSA in m2 / 1.73

OR

Child dose by BSA = (mg/day) = Adult Dose in mg/m2 x BSA in m2

The other options are not correct because they are not accurate methods for calculating the child's dose from the adult dose. Actual body weight and ideal body weight may not account for individual variations in pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, or clinical response. Actual body height is not a reliable indicator of drug dosage, as it does not reflect the body mass or organ function of the child.

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

Dextrose 5% in water (D5W) is an IV fluid that contains **5 grams of dextrose** per 100 mL of water². To calculate how many grams of dextrose are in 500 mL of D5W, you can use a simple proportion:

5 g / 100 mL = x g / 500 mL

Cross-multiply and solve for x:

x = (5 g * 500 mL) / 100 mL

x = 25 g

Therefore, there are **25 grams of dextrose** in 500 mL of D5W.

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