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.
6.5 mL/hr
9.6 mL/hr
10.1 mL/hr
14.8 mL/hr
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.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
The correct angle for giving an intradermal injection is **10 to 15 degrees**. This angle allows the needle to enter the dermis, which is the layer of skin just below the epidermis. The needle should be inserted almost flat against the patient's skin, with the bevel side up. A small blister or bleb should form under the skin after injecting the medication.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
To answer this question, we need to calculate the infusion rate in mL per hour by using the following formula²:
Infusion rate (mL/h) = Dose (mcg/kg/min) × Weight (kg) × 60 min/h × Volume (mL) / Concentration (mcg/mL)
In this case, the infusion rate is:
Infusion rate (mL/h) = 3 mcg/kg/min × 70 kg × 60 min/h × 250 mL / 2500 mg
We need to convert lb to kg by dividing by 2.2
Infusion rate (mL/h) = 3 mcg/kg/min × (154 lb / 2.2 kg/lb) × 60 min/h × 250 mL / 2500 mg
We need to convert mg to mcg by multiplying by 1000:
Infusion rte (mL/h) = 3 mcg/kg/min × (154 lb / 2.2 kg/lb) × 60 min/h × 250 mL / (2500 mg × 1000 mcg/mg)
We can simplify the equation by canceling out some units and numbers:
Infusion rate (mL/h) = 3 × 154 × 250 / (2.2 × 2500 × 1000)
We can use a calculator to get the final answer:
Infusion rate (mL/h) = 12.6363636363636 mL/h
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