A nurse is preparing to administer heparin 22 units/kg/hr by continuous IV infusion for a client who has a pulmonary embolus and weighs 60 kg. Available is heparin 25,000 units in 0.9% sodium chloride 250 mL. The nurse should set the IV pump to deliver how many mL/hr (Round the answer to the nearest tenth. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.)

Question

A nurse is preparing to administer heparin 22 units/kg/hr by continuous IV infusion for a client who has a pulmonary embolus and weighs 60 kg. Available is heparin 25,000 units in 0.9% sodium chloride 250 mL. The nurse should set the IV pump to deliver how many mL/hr (Round the answer to the nearest tenth. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.)

Answer 1

First, calculate the total dose of heparin needed per hour for the client:

22 units/kg/hr x 60 kg = 1320 units/hr

Next, calculate the infusion rate needed:

25,000 units in 250 mL = 100 units in 1 mL
1320 units/hr ÷ 100 units/mL = 13.2 mL/hr

Therefore, the nurse should set the IV pump to deliver 13.2 mL/hr.