A nurse is administering an IV infusion of 0.9% sodium chloride to a client with hypokalemia. If the prescription is for 40 mEq KCl in 500 ml over 3 hours, how many ml/hr should the nurse set the pump?

To determine the correct infusion rate in ml/hr, the total volume of the solution needs to be divided by the time period over which it will be administered.

In this case, the nurse is instructed to administer a total volume of 500 ml over a duration of 3 hours. To find the rate in ml/hr, the calculation is straightforward:

1. Total Volume: 500 ml

2. Total Time: 3 hours

The formula used for the infusion rate is:

Infusion rate (ml/hr) = Total Volume (ml) / Total Time (hr)

By applying the values into this formula:

Infusion rate = 500 ml / 3 hr = approximately 166.67 ml/hr

Since infusion rates are typically rounded to the nearest whole number when setting a pump, this would be rounded to 167 ml/hr. Choosing this value ensures that the medication will be delivered within the prescribed timeframe while also accommodating potential variations in pumping rates that might occur in clinical practice.

Therefore, setting the pump to 167 ml/hr allows the nurse to fulfill the prescription accurately, adhering to the appropriate guidelines for medication administration.