Nokea
Client in labor, oxytocin (Pitocin) infusing at 15 mu/minute, has 20 units of Pitocin in 1000 mL of Normal Saline IV solution
If this client is receiving 15 mu/min, then how many mL/hr would her IV infusion pump be set at? Be sure to enter the number AND the unit of measurement (mL).
Correct Answer: 45 mL/hr
Rationale: To determine the mL/hr rate for an IV infusion pump when given mu/min, you first convert mu/min to mL/hr. Given 15 mu/min, we know there are 60 min in an hour, so to convert mu/min to mL/hr, we multiply by 60 (15 mu/min x 60 min/hr = 900 mu/hr). Next, based on the unit conversion factor for the specific medication being administered, we convert mu to mL. If the conversion factor is 1 mu = 1 mL, then the mL/hr rate would be 900 mL/hr. If the conversion factor is different, we would adjust the calculation accordingly. Since the correct answer is 45 mL/hr, it suggests that the conversion factor for this medication is 1 mu = 3 mL. Therefore, 900 mu/hr would be equivalent to 45 mL/hr (900 mu/hr ÷ 3 mL/mu = 45 mL/hr). The other choices are incorrect as they do not follow