Question

Calculate the IV flow rate in \(\mathrm{gtt} / \mathrm{min}\) for the following IV administrations, unless another unit of measure is stated. A volume of \(150 \mathrm{~mL}\) of \(\mathrm{NS}\) is to infuse at \(25 \mathrm{~mL} / \mathrm{hr}\). a. Calculate the infusion time. b. The IV was started at \(3: 10 \mathrm{AM}\) What time will the IV be completed? State time in traditional and military time.

Short answer

Infusion time: 6 hours; Completion time: 9:10 AM (0910 military time).

Step-by-step solution

Calculate Infusion Time

To find the infusion time, divide the total volume to be infused (\(150\,\text{mL}\)) by the rate of infusion (\(25 \,\text{mL/hour}\)). This gives: \[\text{Infusion Time} = \frac{150 \, \text{mL}}{25 \, \text{mL/hour}} = 6 \, \text{hours} \]

Calculate Completion Time in Traditional Time

To calculate when the IV is completed using traditional time, add the infusion time to the start time. Starting at 3:10 AM, we add 6 hours:\[3:10 \, \text{AM} + 6 \, \text{hours} = 9:10 \, \text{AM}\]

Calculate Completion Time in Military Time

Military time counts hours from 0000 (midnight) to 2359 daily. Since 3:10 AM in military time is 0310, adding 6 hours results in:\[0310 + 0600 = 0910 \]

Key concepts

Infusion Time

Infusion time refers to the period it takes for a prescribed volume of intravenous fluid to completely administer to a patient. It's essential to know this duration to manage patient care effectively.
A simple formula to calculate infusion time is by dividing the total volume of the IV fluid by the flow rate.

• For example, if you have 150 mL of fluid to infuse at a rate of 25 mL/hr, the calculation would be: \[\text{Infusion Time} = \frac{150 \, \text{mL}}{25 \, \text{mL/hour}} = 6 \, \text{hours}\]

Determining the accurate infusion time helps in planning when to check the IV line, refill medication, or change bags.

Flow Rate

The IV flow rate is a crucial component of intravenous drug administration, typically measured in drops per minute (\text{gtt/min}).
This rate determines how quickly medicine is delivered to the patient. It's calculated based on different factors like the type of IV set and volume to be infused.
By keeping the flow rate consistent with a doctor's prescription, healthcare professionals ensure patient safety and effectiveness of the medication.

• The general formula for calculating flow rate is:\[\text{Flow Rate} = \frac{\text{Volume to be infused} \times \text{drop factor}}{\text{time in minutes}}\]

Learning how to adjust this rate accurately is a vital skill in nursing mathematics.

Military Time

Military time is a 24-hour timekeeping system and is used primarily by military personnel and healthcare settings to avoid confusion between AM and PM times.
Instead of cycling through 12-hour segments, military time runs from 0000 at midnight to 2359, just before the next midnight.
For instance, 1:00 PM in traditional time is 1300 in military time. This system is straightforward, subtracting the traditional 12-hour time from or adding to the military format.

• For the conversion, if your IV starts at 3:10 AM (0310 hours), and it takes 6 hours, just add 0600, resulting in 0910 in military time.

Using military time improves precision in documentation and reduces errors in medication administration scheduling.

Nursing Mathematics

Nursing mathematics encompasses all the necessary arithmetic calculations involved in healthcare settings, mainly focusing on medications, fluids, and patient monitoring.
This includes calculating dosage, infusion rates, and determining the correct medication administration methods.

• Nurses regularly apply fundamental math concepts to ensure accurate medication dosing and fluid administration. Basic operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division are essential.
• Understanding medical units and conversion factors is also vital, such as converting hours to minutes or mL to L.

Hence, a solid grasp of nursing mathematics is crucial in delivering efficient and safe patient care.