Prophecy/Relias RN Pharmacology A Practice Test

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You receive an order to start a Heparin drip at 18 units/kg/hr for a person weighing 75 kg. The heparin comes in a 500 mL bag with 25,000 units. What is the starting rate of the infusion?

15 mL/hr

20 mL/hr

27 mL/hr

To determine the starting rate of the heparin infusion, it is essential to first calculate the total number of units of heparin required per hour based on the patient's weight and the ordered dosage. The order specifies 18 units/kg/hr for a patient weighing 75 kg. Therefore, the total required units per hour would be:

18 units/kg/hr × 75 kg = 1350 units/hr.

Next, one must assess how much of the heparin solution needs to be administered to deliver this dose. The heparin is provided in a 500 mL bag containing 25,000 units. To find the concentration of heparin per mL in the solution, the following calculation is performed:

25,000 units / 500 mL = 50 units/mL.

Now, to find the infusion rate in mL/hr that delivers the necessary 1350 units/hour, divide the desired hourly units by the concentration:

1350 units/hr ÷ 50 units/mL = 27 mL/hr.

Thus, the correct answer for the starting rate of the heparin infusion is indeed 27 mL/hr. This calculation ensures that the patient receives the precise amount of medication needed for effective and safe antico

30 mL/hr