Worked example

IV infusion time — practice problem 5

An IV pump is running 100 mL of 0.9% normal saline at 40 mL/hr.

Volume100 mL
Rate40 mL/hr

How long will the infusion take (hours)?

Answer: 2.5 hr

Step-by-step solution

1. Divide the volume by the rate
100 mL ÷ ( 40 mL ÷ 1 hr )
2. Cancel mL and solve for hours
= 100 ÷ 40 hr
= 2.5 hr
3. Convert the decimal hours to hours and minutes
2.5 hr = 2 hr 30 min
= 2 hr 30 min

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