IV dosage formulas

Fluid Maintenance 10-20 kg

1,000 mL + 50 mL per each kg above 10 kg

Fluid Maintenance 20-70 kg

1,500 mL + 20 mL per each kg above 20 kg

Fluid Maintenance 0-10kg

100 mL/kg

Fluid Maintenance Over 70kg

2,500 mL (adult requirement)

D5W

5%, dextrose 5% in water

Given a volume of IV fluid and a dosage expressed in percent, what is the mass of a particular dosage?

Calculate the amount of dextrose in 1000 mL D5W. Concentration % /100 x Volume (mL) = Y (Dosage Amount in g)

NS

NORMAL SALINE 0.9%

Give an order in quantity of mass per time, determine the necessary IV flow rate in mL/hr based on the given mass per volume. These types of problems are often used in critical care nursing. EX: Give patient 16.2 mg of dopamine in 187 mL of D5W to be infused at a rate of 13,578 mcg/hr. Calculate the flow rate in mL/hr.

Ordered Per Hour/Have x Volume (mL) = Y (Flow Rate in mL/hr)

Given a certain amount of liquid and a time period, what is the necessary IV flow rate in mL/hr? Measurement used when IV regulated electronically by infusion pump. EX: Infuse 0.82 L over the next 96 min by infusion pump. What is the IV flow rate in mL/hr?

Volume (mL)/Time (hr) = Y (Flow Rate in mL/hr)

Given a certain amount of liquid, a time period, and a drop factor (gtts/mL), what is the necessary IV flow rate in gtts/min? Measurement used when IV is regulated manually. Because it is not possible to give a patient a fraction of a drop, it is typical to round answers for these problems up or down to the nearest whole number. EX: Calculate the IV flow rate for 284,000 mcL of NS to be infused in 13.6 hr. The infusion set is calibrated for a drop factor of 79 gtts/mL. What is the IV flow rate in gtts/min?

Volume (mL)/Time (min) x Drop Factor (gtts/mL) = Y (Flow Rate in gtts/min)