Question

21. A patient with hypokalemia has an order for 40 mEq of potassium to be infused IV now The potassium is diluted in 200 mL of Ds W. The facility's policy states to infuse IV potassium at a rat h. How many milliliters per hour should the IV pump be

Answer 1

Order is 40 mEq and it has to be diluted in 200 ml.

So, concentration is 40mEq/200 ml.

Rate should be 10 mEq/hr.

So, if 200 ml contains 40 mEq then to have 10 mEq concentration, the volume should be 10 x 200 /40 = 50 mL.

So, rate should be 50 ml/hr.