A client weighs 246 pounds and is prescribed heparin 18 units/kg/hr. The heparin comes as 25,000 units in 250 mL of D5W. How many mL/hr should be administered? (Round to the nearest whole number)

A client weighs 246 pounds and is prescribed heparin 18 units/kg/hr. The heparin comes as 25,000 units in 250 mL of D5W. How many mL/hr should be administered? (Round to the nearest whole number)

• A. 18 mL/hr
• B. 20 mL/hr
• C. 22 mL/hr
• D. 24 mL/hr

Answer: (B)

Calculating IV infusion rate means converting the prescribed dose into units per hour, then using the solution’s concentration to turn those units into milliliters per hour. First convert weight to kilograms: 246 lb ÷ 2.2046 ≈ 111.6 kg. Then find the required units per hour: 111.6 kg × 18 units/kg/hr ≈ 2008.8 units/hr. The heparin solution provides 25,000 units in 250 mL, which is 25,000 ÷ 250 = 100 units per mL. Now convert to mL per hour: 2008.8 units/hr ÷ 100 units/mL ≈ 20.1 mL/hr. Rounded to the nearest whole number, the rate is 20 mL/hr.

Calculating IV infusion rate means converting the prescribed dose into units per hour, then using the solution’s concentration to turn those units into milliliters per hour.

First convert weight to kilograms: 246 lb ÷ 2.2046 ≈ 111.6 kg.

Then find the required units per hour: 111.6 kg × 18 units/kg/hr ≈ 2008.8 units/hr.

The heparin solution provides 25,000 units in 250 mL, which is 25,000 ÷ 250 = 100 units per mL.

Now convert to mL per hour: 2008.8 units/hr ÷ 100 units/mL ≈ 20.1 mL/hr.

Rounded to the nearest whole number, the rate is 20 mL/hr.