Section 7.2 – IV Flow Rates
Definition: Flow Rate-
Flow rate is also referred to as the:
Formulas:
Duration of Therapy = -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
# of hours 1 IV bag will last = ---------------------------
(always round ________________ duration to the nearest ________________ ________________)
IV Flow Rate = -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ex 1: Determine the number of 1L bags needed for 24 hours (round up to the nearest bag)
(a) 130mL/hour
(b) 225mL/hour
(c) 175mL/hour
(d) 200mL/hour
Ex 2: Answer the following questions about flow rates
(a) A 600mL bag of IV fluid is running at 45mL/hr. How long will the bag last?
(b) A liter bag of fluid is hung at 10am and runs at 125mL/hr. How long will the bag last?
At what time will the bag need to be replaced?
(c) A patient has an order for 1,000mL of D5W IV to be administered over 10hours, what
is the infusion rate in milliliters per hour?
(d) A patient receives 5,000 units of Heparin in an IV of 500mL over 90mins. What is the
flow rate in milliliters per hour?
(e) A patient is to receive 1,000mL over 75mins. How many milliliters per hour should
the pump be set to?
(f) If 250mL is to be administered over the next 120mins, what is the infusion rate in
milliliters per hour?
(g) A patient is to be given 100mL of a nitroglycerin IV drip. The order is to administer
the nitroglycerin at 5mcg/min. The pharmacy sends a 250mL IV container with
15mg of nitroglycerin added to the container.
a. What rate in mL/hr should the IV run?
b. If the patient was admitted at 2pm, when should the IV drip be stopped?
Ex 3: Interpret the following prescriptions and provide the requested rates
(a) Medication: Patoprazole 40mg/mL
Fluid Volume: 80mL
Time of Infusion: 15mins
How many: (a) milliliters per hour?
(b) Medication: dopamine 40mg
(b) grams per hour?
Dose: 1mg/min
How many: (a) milliliters per hour?
Fluid volume: 500mL
(b) milligrams per hour?
(c) Medication: Intropine (dopamine hydrochloride) 800mg
Patient weight: 198lb
Dose: 12mcg/kg/min
Fluid volume: 500mL
How many: (a) milliliters per hour?
(b) milligrams per hour?