A patient is to receive 1,000 mL of sodium chloride over 10 hours. What rate should the nurse set for the IV pump?

To determine the infusion rate for administering 1,000 mL of sodium chloride over 10 hours, the calculation involves dividing the total volume of fluid by the total time in hours.

Start by converting the total volume of 1,000 mL to hours: since the solution is to be administered over 10 hours, the calculation is straightforward.

1. Calculate the infusion rate:

[

\text{Infusion rate} = \frac{\text{Total volume}}{\text{Total time}}

= \frac{1000 \text{ mL}}{10 \text{ hours}}

= 100 \text{ mL/hr}

]

Setting the IV pump to 100 mL/hr ensures that the entire 1,000 mL will be infused correctly within the designated period. This rate allows for a steady flow, ensuring the patient receives the necessary volume without being too fast or too slow, which could lead to complications such as fluid overload or ineffective treatment.