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    RN HESI Pharmacology Proctored Exam
    Calculation

    The healthcare provider prescribes magnesium sulfate 300 mg/hour IV. The IV bag contains magnesium sulfate 4 grams in dextrose 5% in water (D5W) 500 mL. How many mL/hour should the nurse set the infusion pump? (Enter numerical value only. If rounding is required, round to the nearest tenth.)

    mL/hour

    Explanation & Rationale

    Step-by-Step Calculation Step 1: Determine the total amount of magnesium sulfate in the IV bag. The IV bag contains 4 grams of magnesium sulfate. Step 2: Convert grams to milligrams. 4 grams × 1000 mg/gram = 4000 mg Result: The IV bag contains 4000 mg of magnesium sulfate. Step 3: Determine the concentration of magnesium sulfate in the IV bag. Concentration = Total amount of magnesium sulfate ÷ Total volume of the IV bag Concentration = 4000 mg ÷ 500 mL Result: The concentration is 8 mg/mL. Step 4: Calculate the infusion rate. Infusion rate = Prescribed dose ÷ Concentration Infusion rate = 300 mg/hour ÷ 8 mg/mL Result: The infusion rate is 37.5 mL/hour.

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