Calculating IV Infusion and Completion Times Chapter 17 Calculating IV Infusion and Completion Times

Definitions Infusion time Completion time Time required for IV solution to infuse completely Completion time Actual hour and/or minute infusion bag, bottle, or syringe finishes or empties

Purposes of Calculating IV Times To have additional solutions prescribed, prepared in advance, and ready at-hand To discontinue IV when infusion complete To label IV bag with start, progress, and completion time To monitor and adjust infusion to keep it on schedule

Purposes of Calculating IV Times Laboratory values sometimes made before, during, or after specified amounts of IV solutions have infused

Calculating Infusion Time Divide volume to be infused by mL/hr flow rate

Calculating Infusion Time: Example Calculate infusion time for IV of 1000 mL to infuse at 100 mL/hr

Fractional Hours Converted to min by multiplying 60 min by fractional hour obtained

Fractional Hours: Example Calculate infusion time for 500 mL at 75 mL/hr IV will infuse in 6 hours and 40 min

Calculating Completion Time Add infusion time to time IV was started Military or standard

Military Time Used by most acute care facilities for uniformity Avoids confusion if a.m. or p.m. absent or unclear

Military Time Based on 24 hours on day clock with no repetition of hour numbers Written in four-digit numbers After noon, each hour added to 12

Military Time 2400 = midnight 0100 = 1:00 a.m. 0200 = 2:00 a.m.

Military Time 0700 = 7:00 a.m. 0800 = 8:00 a.m. 0900 = 9:00 a.m. 1200 = 12:00 p.m. 1300 = 1:00 p.m.

Military Time 1400 = 2:00 p.m. 1500 = 3:00 p.m. 1600 = 4:00 p.m.

Military Time 2100 = 9:00 p.m. 2200 = 10:00 p.m. 2300 = 11:00 p.m.

Military Time: Example Calculate completion time for 500 mL at 75 mL/hr that started at 0800 (8:00 a.m.)

Military Time: Example Infusion time = 6 hours and 40 min Add infusion time to IV start time 0800 + 6 hr and 40 min = 1440 (2:40 p.m.)

Labeling IV Solution Bags Allows for monitoring of amount of remaining fluid Begins at top level of fluid

Labeling IV Solution Bags Commercially prepared labels available Though can be prepared locally by using tape that is: Easy to write on Easy to read Wide enough to contain written times

Labeling IV Solution Bags: Example IV of 1000 mL prescribed at rate of 150 mL/hr Started at 2400 (midnight) Tape bag with start, progress, and completion times

Labeling IV Solution Bags: Example 1000 mL – 150 mL = 850 mL 0200 label 850 mL – 150 mL = 700 mL 0300 label 700 mL – 150 mL = 550 mL

Labeling IV Solution Bags: Example 550 mL – 150 mL = 400 mL 0500 label 400 mL – 150 mL = 250 mL 0600 label 250 mL – 150 mL = 100 mL

Labeling IV Solution Bags: Example Calculate infusion time for remaining 100 mL

Labeling IV Solution Bags: Example of 0640 (6:40 a.m.)