IVPB

For some reason, I'm getting so confused by IV pump settings, and I *know* it's easier than what my mind is making it out to be. For skill off on IVPB, we are all going to have one 100 mL bad of fluids to use, so that already gives us the VTBI. But what about the rate? For example, if Meropenem is being used, and the rate of administration is supposed to be over 15 to 30 minutes, then what would the rate on the pump be set to??? I'm sorry in advance for such a silly question, but so far this semester, IVs have totally messed with my mind and I can't ever get a handle on them! Thanks! :-)

When you set two of the three variables, the machine will fill in the third variable for you.

In this case, you would enter the volume and duration, then the machine would calculate the rate.

If you entered the rate and volume, the machine would calculate the duration.

Of course you always want to "eyeball" your final settings and make sure that they look reasonable. A "typo" can really screw things up- especially with high-risk drugs.

When you set two of the three variables, the machine will fill in the third variable for you.

In this case, you would enter the volume and duration, then the machine would calculate the rate.

If you entered the rate and volume, the machine would calculate the duration.

Not always. It depends on how your facility has the pump's library programmed. The only time I've ever seen a variable time frame like that is for blood administration. Is it the time span that's confusing you or actually how to figure the duration?

While many new IV pumps will calculate the third value (rate) when you input the other two (volume, time to infuse), your instructor might expect you to calculate and manually enter the rate. Also, you should develop the habit of calculating the rate, regardless of whether the pump does it for you or not, as a second check to ensure that the medication infuses over a safe time. To solve this type problem, I use the following formula: (volume to infuse [mL]/time to infuse [min]) * (60 min/1 hour)

Well, if you wanted to drive 100 miles in 1 hr, you would drive 100 mph.

If you wanted to drive 100 miles in 1/4 of an hour, (15 minutes) you would drive 4 times that fast, or 400 mph.

While the pump may do most of the work for you, one way to avoid mistakes is to actually understand the concepts.

For some reason, I'm getting so confused by IV pump settings, and I *know* it's easier than what my mind is making it out to be. For skill off on IVPB, we are all going to have one 100 mL bad of fluids to use, so that already gives us the VTBI. But what about the rate? For example, if Meropenem is being used, and the rate of administration is supposed to be over 15 to 30 minutes, then what would the rate on the pump be set to??? I'm sorry in advance for such a silly question, but so far this semester, IVs have totally messed with my mind and I can't ever get a handle on them! Thanks! :-)

If you give 100 mL in 1 hr, your rate is 100 mL/hr

If you give 100 mL in 1/2 hr, your rate is 2x that. 100 mL goes in in 30 min, so 200 mL would go in in 1 hr.

If you give 100 mL in 15 min, your rate is 4 x 100 or 400 mL/hr.

Similarly, if you're giving 100mL over four hours (I'm thinking of the 4-hour Zosyn IVPBs that are all the rage these days at my facility), it would be 25mL/hour.

How many mL total divided by how many hours total.

100mL divided by 4 hours = 25mL/hour

100mL divided by 0.5 hour = 200mL/hour

The math problem is figured right there for you in the way it's stated... mL per hour.

Write down how many mL, then draw a line under it, then write how many hours under it. Then just do the math.

100mL

______

1/2 hour or 0.5 hour