Worked example

IV flow rate (mL/hr) — practice problem 11

An order reads: infuse 250 mL of D5W over 8 hours using an IV pump.

Volume250 mL

Time8 hr

What rate (mL/hr) should the pump be set to?

Answer: 31 mL/hr

Step-by-step solution

1. Divide the volume by the time in hours

250 mL ÷ 8 hr

= 31.25 mL/hr

2. Round to a whole mL/hr the pump can be set to

31.25 mL/hr ≈ 31 mL/hr

= 31 mL/hr