C HAPTER 14: I NTRAVENOUS I NFUSION AND
I NFUSION R ATE
Castillo: Calculating Drug Dosages: A Patient -Safe Approach to Nursing
and Math 2nd Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. During the end of shift r eport, the day shift nurse discusses the parenteral
intake from the “primary IV.” What does the evening shift nurse
understand about the primary IV?
A. It has an end cap that can be accessed by a needless system to
infuse IV medications.
B. It is always infused using an IV pump.
C. It is the main continuous IV used to provide fluid and electrolytes.
D. It is usuall y inserted into a large vein near the heart.
ANS: C
Feedback
The primary IV is a large volume IV (commonl y 1,000 mL in an adult)
that infuses continuall y, rather than intermittentl y. The primary IV can
infuse by gravit y or by an IV pump. Most often, the primary IV is
inserted into a peripheral, not a central, vein. An IV lock has an end
cap that can be connected to an IV piggyback (IVPB) to administer
intermittent medication.
,2. When reading an IV order the nurse would expect which of the following
components to be in the MD order?
A. The amount of IV solution to be infused.
B. The time that the IV is to be started.
C. The time that the IV will be completed.
D. The infusion is via gravit y or use of IV pump.
ANS: A
Feedback
A complete IV order includes the following components: t ype of IV
solution, volume to be infused (m L or L), and time for the IV to infuse
(total number of hours, or mL/hr). The time that the IV is to be started
and whether or not to use an IV pump for infusion are clinical
decisions made by the nurse. The completion time of the IV is
calculated.
3. Which of the following can the nurse use to manuall y control the rate of
flow of the IV infusing by gravit y?
A. Slide clamp
B. Drip chamber
C. Injection port
D. Roller clamp
ANS: D
Feedback
, The roller clamp compresses the IV tubing, allowing the IV flow rate
to be increased or decreased. The slide clamp is used to stop the rate of
flow. The drip chamber is an enlargeme nt in the IV tubing that allows
the nurse to assess the infusion of the IV fluid. The injection port
provides needleless entry into the IV tubing.
4. Which of the following is true about an order for an IV piggyback?
A. It has components required of all medicat ion orders.
B. It specifies the t ype of IV solution used to dilute the medication.
C. It specifies the volume of IV solution in the IV bag.
D. It includes the infusion time for the medication.
ANS: A
Feedback
A complete order for an IV piggyback includes the med ication’s name,
dose, route, and frequency of administration. The drug manufacturer
determines the t ype and volume of IV solution used to dilute the
medication, as well as the infusion time for the medication.
5. Which of the following is a standard of care for a patient who is receiving
an IV infusion via an IV pump?
A. Checking the number of gtt/min for the IV infusion.
B. Checking regularl y that the IV is infusing at the ordered rate.
C. Monitoring the IV at the beginning and end of the shift.
D. Listening for an alar m button to sound before checking the IV
tubing for patency.
ANS: B
, Feedback
The nurse must follow approved best practices for any patient who has
an IV infusing by pump. The pump is an aid that facilitates correct IV
infusion but does not substitute fo r continuing assessment by the nurse.
A pump is programmed by mL/hr, not gtt/min. Visuall y assessing the
IV bag, tubing, and insertion site must be done as frequentl y as every 2
hours or as needed.
6. The nurse has the following IV order: Start 1,000 m L 0.9% NaCl every 12
hr. What is mL/hr the nurse will set on the IV pump?
A. 12 m L/hr
B. 80 m L/hr
C. 83 m L/hr
D. 84 m L/hr
ANS: C
Feedback
Choose a method of calculation and solve for x. After calculating the
number of m L/hr, the nurse determines that the answer is 83.33.
Because the IV pump is able to infuse whole numbers of mL, the nurse
programs 83 mL/hr into the IV pump.
7. The nurse has the following new IV order: Start 500 mL D5W at 80 m L/hr.
The IV is to be infused by IV pump. What is the rate of infusion that the
nurse will set on the IV pump?
I NFUSION R ATE
Castillo: Calculating Drug Dosages: A Patient -Safe Approach to Nursing
and Math 2nd Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. During the end of shift r eport, the day shift nurse discusses the parenteral
intake from the “primary IV.” What does the evening shift nurse
understand about the primary IV?
A. It has an end cap that can be accessed by a needless system to
infuse IV medications.
B. It is always infused using an IV pump.
C. It is the main continuous IV used to provide fluid and electrolytes.
D. It is usuall y inserted into a large vein near the heart.
ANS: C
Feedback
The primary IV is a large volume IV (commonl y 1,000 mL in an adult)
that infuses continuall y, rather than intermittentl y. The primary IV can
infuse by gravit y or by an IV pump. Most often, the primary IV is
inserted into a peripheral, not a central, vein. An IV lock has an end
cap that can be connected to an IV piggyback (IVPB) to administer
intermittent medication.
,2. When reading an IV order the nurse would expect which of the following
components to be in the MD order?
A. The amount of IV solution to be infused.
B. The time that the IV is to be started.
C. The time that the IV will be completed.
D. The infusion is via gravit y or use of IV pump.
ANS: A
Feedback
A complete IV order includes the following components: t ype of IV
solution, volume to be infused (m L or L), and time for the IV to infuse
(total number of hours, or mL/hr). The time that the IV is to be started
and whether or not to use an IV pump for infusion are clinical
decisions made by the nurse. The completion time of the IV is
calculated.
3. Which of the following can the nurse use to manuall y control the rate of
flow of the IV infusing by gravit y?
A. Slide clamp
B. Drip chamber
C. Injection port
D. Roller clamp
ANS: D
Feedback
, The roller clamp compresses the IV tubing, allowing the IV flow rate
to be increased or decreased. The slide clamp is used to stop the rate of
flow. The drip chamber is an enlargeme nt in the IV tubing that allows
the nurse to assess the infusion of the IV fluid. The injection port
provides needleless entry into the IV tubing.
4. Which of the following is true about an order for an IV piggyback?
A. It has components required of all medicat ion orders.
B. It specifies the t ype of IV solution used to dilute the medication.
C. It specifies the volume of IV solution in the IV bag.
D. It includes the infusion time for the medication.
ANS: A
Feedback
A complete order for an IV piggyback includes the med ication’s name,
dose, route, and frequency of administration. The drug manufacturer
determines the t ype and volume of IV solution used to dilute the
medication, as well as the infusion time for the medication.
5. Which of the following is a standard of care for a patient who is receiving
an IV infusion via an IV pump?
A. Checking the number of gtt/min for the IV infusion.
B. Checking regularl y that the IV is infusing at the ordered rate.
C. Monitoring the IV at the beginning and end of the shift.
D. Listening for an alar m button to sound before checking the IV
tubing for patency.
ANS: B
, Feedback
The nurse must follow approved best practices for any patient who has
an IV infusing by pump. The pump is an aid that facilitates correct IV
infusion but does not substitute fo r continuing assessment by the nurse.
A pump is programmed by mL/hr, not gtt/min. Visuall y assessing the
IV bag, tubing, and insertion site must be done as frequentl y as every 2
hours or as needed.
6. The nurse has the following IV order: Start 1,000 m L 0.9% NaCl every 12
hr. What is mL/hr the nurse will set on the IV pump?
A. 12 m L/hr
B. 80 m L/hr
C. 83 m L/hr
D. 84 m L/hr
ANS: C
Feedback
Choose a method of calculation and solve for x. After calculating the
number of m L/hr, the nurse determines that the answer is 83.33.
Because the IV pump is able to infuse whole numbers of mL, the nurse
programs 83 mL/hr into the IV pump.
7. The nurse has the following new IV order: Start 500 mL D5W at 80 m L/hr.
The IV is to be infused by IV pump. What is the rate of infusion that the
nurse will set on the IV pump?
