You are administering an intravenous medication to a patient, and the medication label instructs you to infuse 50 mL over 15 minutes. What is the correct flow rate in mL/hour?

1. A

   150 mL/hour

2. B

   50 mL/hour

3. C

   200 mL/hour

4. D

   100 mL/hour

Appeared in: NORCET 6 Prelims -2024

Explanation

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• The question requires converting an infusion rate given in mL over a fraction of an hour (15 minutes) to an hourly rate (mL/hour).
• Since there are four 15-minute intervals in one hour (60 minutes / 15 minutes = 4), the volume infused in one hour is four times the volume infused in 15 minutes.
• Calculation: 50 mL × 4 = 200 mL.
• Therefore, the correct flow rate is 200 mL/hour.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

• Option A: This rate is incorrect. It may result from a calculation error, such as incorrectly assuming there are three 15-minute intervals in an hour (50 mL x 3 = 150 mL/hr).
• Option B: This error occurs by incorrectly using the total volume to be infused (50 mL) as the hourly rate, completely ignoring the specified infusion time (15 minutes).
• Option D: This rate results from incorrectly calculating the number of 15-minute intervals in an hour. It implies a belief that there are only two such intervals (50 mL x 2 = 100 mL/hr).

Related Visual

• Visual 1: Infographic: A visual guide showing the formula for calculating IV flow rate: Flow Rate (mL/hr) = [Volume (mL) / Time (min)] x 60. This helps in quick recall and application.

Clinical Relevance

• Nursing practice connection: Use the key finding related to IV Flow Rate Calculation to guide bedside assessment, documentation, and the next nursing action.
• Accurate IV flow rate calculation is a fundamental patient safety competency for nurses. Errors can lead to significant harm.
• Administering medication too rapidly (a high flow rate) can cause toxic effects or fluid overload, especially in patients with cardiac or renal issues.
• Administering medication too slowly (a low flow rate) can lead to sub-therapeutic drug levels, rendering the treatment ineffective.

How to Approach the Question

• First, identify the key pieces of information given in the problem: the total volume to be infused (50 mL) and the total time for the infusion (15 minutes).
• Next, identify the unit required for the answer, which is millilitres per hour (mL/hour).
• Recognize that you need to convert the given rate (mL/15 min) to the desired rate (mL/60 min).
• Set up a proportion or use a formula. A simple method is to determine how many of the given time intervals fit into one hour.
• Calculate: There are four 15-minute periods in an hour (60 ÷ 15 = 4).
• Multiply the volume for one interval by the number of intervals in an hour to find the final answer: 50 mL × 4 = 200 mL/hour.

Concept Tested & Keywords

• Concept Tested: IV Flow Rate Calculation
• Stem keywords: intravenous medication, infuse, 50 mL, 15 minutes, flow rate, mL/hour
• Lead-in keywords: What is the correct flow rate

Question ID

QXJB5JbH25RYaX6H9naKPF

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