If a provider prescribes 40 mEq of potassium chloride in 500 ml of dextrose 5% at a rate of 10 mEq/hr, what should be the IV pump setting in mL/hr?

To determine the IV pump setting in mL/hr based on the prescribed infusion of potassium chloride, it is essential to first understand the total mEq of potassium chloride in the IV solution and the infusion rate.

The prescription involves 40 mEq of potassium chloride in 500 mL of dextrose 5%. Since the provider has ordered the rate of infusion to be 10 mEq/hr, we can calculate the required volume to be infused in order to deliver this amount of potassium.

To find out how many mL of solution are needed to administer 10 mEq of potassium, we can set up a simple proportion:

If 40 mEq are in 500 mL, then to find out how many mL correspond to 10 mEq of potassium chloride, we can use the formula:

(10 mEq) / (40 mEq) = (X mL) / (500 mL)

Cross-multiplying gives us:

10 mEq * 500 mL = 40 mEq * X mL

5000 = 40X

X = 125 mL

This means that in order to deliver 10 mEq of potassium chloride, 125 mL of the solution needs to be infused