A nurse initiates an insulin infusion on a patient with a diagnosis of diabetic ketoacidosis. The I.V. solution contains 100 U of insulin in 250 ml of normal saline. The physician orders the infusion to be initiated at 5 U/hour, what infusion rate should the nurse program into the infusion pump?

Explanation

•The solution is (Desired dose x Volume on hand) divided by concentration. The desired dose is 5u/hr insulin, the volume on hand is 250ml saline, and the concentration is 100 units of insuklin.
• The desired dose is 5u/hr insulin, the volume on hand is 250ml saline, and the concentration is 100 units of insulin.

•5u x 250 ml = 1250
•1250/100 = 12.5

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