4 Intravenous Medication Calculations Free Online FlashCards

How do you calculate an IV pump rate in mL/hr?

Divide the volume in mL by the infusion time in hours to get the pump rate in mL/hr.

How do you calculate a gravity flow rate in gtt/min?

Multiply the volume in mL by the tubing drop factor in gtt/mL, then divide by the time in minutes. The result is gtt/min.

How do you find a medication solution’s concentration?

Divide the amount of drug by the total solution volume to find the concentration, such as $90\text{ mg} \div 250\text{ mL} = 0.36\text{ mg/mL}$.

How do you apply a weight-based dose before finding the IV volume rate?

Multiply the prescribed dose per kilogram by the patient’s weight to find the required dose per time before converting it to a volume rate.

What should be verified before administering IV therapy?

Verify the order, patient, solution concentration, tubing drop factor, and pump settings; follow local policy. Correct calculation and monitoring are important because IV therapy enters the bloodstream directly.

What pump rate delivers 240 mL over 90 minutes?

Convert 90 minutes to 1.5 hours, then calculate $240\text{ mL} \div 1.5\text{ hr} = 160\text{ mL/hr}$.

What is the pump rate for 750 mL over 6 hours?

$750\text{ mL} \div 6\text{ hr} = 125\text{ mL/hr}$.

What gravity rate delivers 500 mL over 4 hours with 15 gtt/mL tubing?

Convert 4 hours to 240 minutes: $(500\text{ mL} \times 15\text{ gtt/mL}) \div 240\text{ min} = 31.25\text{ gtt/min}$, which rounds to 31 gtt/min.

Why is a gravity flow rate rounded to a whole drop?

Round the calculated gravity rate to a whole drop per minute because a fraction of a drop cannot be counted.

What numerical relationship applies to a 60 gtt/mL microdrip set?

With tubing labeled 60 gtt/mL, the numerical rate in gtt/min equals the rate in mL/hr; for example, 75 mL/hr corresponds to 75 gtt/min.

What pump rate delivers 18 mg/hr from 90 mg in 250 mL?

The concentration is $90\text{ mg} \div 250\text{ mL} = 0.36\text{ mg/mL}$. Then $18\text{ mg/hr} \div 0.36\text{ mg/mL} = 50\text{ mL/hr}$.

What dose rate does 5 mcg/kg/min prescribe for a 64-kg patient?

$5\text{ mcg/kg/min} \times 64\text{ kg} = 320\text{ mcg/min}$.