1. Intravenous Solutions, Equipment, and Calculations
MAT 119 Chapter 15
Part 2

2. Intermittent IV Infusions
IVPB or secondary IV
May come premixed, or may need to be prepared by the nurse
Follow manufacturer suggestion for infusion times or rates

3. Problem
Cefazolin 0.6 g in 100 mL D5W to infuse in 30 min. Drop factor is 20 gtt/mL.
What is the flow rate (gtt/min)?
100mL÷30 min x 20gtt/mL = 67 gtt/min
What is the flow rate on an infusion pump (mL/h)?
100 mL÷30 min x 60 min/hr = 200 mL/hr

4. IV Infusion Time: Rate in mL/h
To calculate IV infusion time on a pump
mL/h is known:
Or, use ratio-proportion:

5. Example You have an order to infuse 1000 mL of D5W at 80 mL/h.
Calculate the infusion time.
12.5 hours or 12 hours and 30 min
If the infusion was started at 0700 when will it be completed?
1930

6. Example
The infusion pump is programmed to deliver 60 mL/h. You hung 1000 mL of D5NS at
At what time can you expect to replace the infusion fluid?

7. Answer
1000 mL = hours
60 mL/h
= 0.67h x 60min/hr = 40.2 min = 16 h 40 min
Infusion started at 1500, completed at the next day

8. Time IV solution is completed
900 mL of an IV solution is to infuse at 100 mL/h. If it is 0900 when the infusion starts, at what time will it be complete?
900 mL ÷ 100 mL/h = 9 hrs
complete at 1800
1000 mL of an IV solution is to infuse at 100 mL/h. If the infusion starts at 1000, at what time will it be completed?
1000 mL ÷ 100 mL/h = 10 hrs
complete at 2000

9. Calculate the hours the following IVs will run
Order: 250 mL D51/2 NS 30 mL/h
Order: Ringer’s lactate 500 mL 75mL/h
Order: 1000 mL D5NS IV to infuse from to 0200.
Order: 1000 mL D5W 42 mL/h
Order: 500 mL D51/2 70 mL/h

10. Calculate the hours the following IVs will run Answers
Order: 250 mL D51/2 NS 30 mL/h
8.33 hr = 8 hours and 20 min
Order: Ringer’s lactate 500 mL 75 mL/h
6.67hr = 6 hours and 40min
Order: 1000 mL D5NS IV to infuse from to 0200.
10 hr
Order: 1000 mL D5W 42 mL/h
23.81 hr = 23 hours and 49 min
Order: 500 mL D51/2 70 mL/h
7.14 hr = 7 hours and 8 min

11. IV Fluid Volume mL/h and total running time is known:
To calculate total infusion volume on a pump
mL/h and total running time is known:
Or, use ratio-proportion: mL = X total mL
h total hours

12. Example You are infusing NS at 125 ml/h for the past 8 hours
How much fluid has the patient received?
Answer: 125 ml/hour x 8 hours = 1000 mL

13. Calculate the fluid volme.
Order: D5W infusing at 80 mL/h. If the infusion started at 0700 and ended at 1930, how much fluid did the patient receive?
Order: D5NS infusing at 60 mL/h. If the IV bag was hung at 1500 and completed at 0300, how much fluid did the patient receive?
Order: 0.45% NS is to infuse at 30 mL/h for 6 hr. How many mL of fluid did the patient receive?
1000 mL
720 mL
180 mL