Worked example

IV infusion time — practice problem 1

An IV pump is running 500 mL of lactated Ringer's at 150 mL/hr.

Volume500 mL
Rate150 mL/hr

How long will the infusion take (hours)?

Answer: 3.33 hr

Step-by-step solution

1. Divide the volume by the rate
500 mL ÷ ( 150 mL ÷ 1 hr )
2. Cancel mL and solve for hours
= 500 ÷ 150 hr
= 3.33 hr
3. Convert the decimal hours to hours and minutes
3.33 hr = 3 hr 20 min
= 3 hr 20 min

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