The nurse is about to administer 1 liter (1000 mL) of 0.9% NS over 2 hours intravenously to a patient in shock.

What rate should the nurse set on the infusion pump?

Choice A rationale
Medicate the client 30 minutes before the procedure. This is the correct action. Administering pain medication 30 minutes before the procedure allows the medication to take effect and provides pain control during the procedure.
Choice B rationale
Reassure the client that the procedure is not painful. This is not accurate. Debridement and hydrotherapy can be painful, so it’s important to manage the client’s pain effectively.
Choice C rationale
Utilize meditation and imagery. While these techniques can be helpful adjuncts to pain management, they should not replace pharmacological pain management in this situation.
Choice D rationale
Administer pain medication around the clock. While it’s important to manage pain effectively, this does not specifically address the client’s needs during the hydrotherapy and debridement procedure.

To calculate the rate for the infusion pump, you would divide the total volume by the total time, then multiply by the drop factor. Here’s how you can do it: Step 1 is: Calculate the total volume in mL, which is 1000 mL.

Step 2 is: Calculate the total time in minutes. Since there are 60 minutes in an hour, 2 hours is 120 minutes.

Step 3 is: Divide the total volume by the total time. So, 1000 mL ÷ 120 min = 8.33 mL/min.

Step 4 is: Multiply the result by the drop factor. If we assume a standard drop factor of 20 drops/mL, then (8.33 mL/min) × 20 drops/mL = 166.67 drops/min. So, the nurse should set the infusion pump to approximately 167 drops per minute. Vital signsVital signs Explore