I have an order to administer nitroglycerin 10mcg/min continuous infusion. The bottle of nitroglycerin available is 50mg in 250 ml of D5W. At what rate would you set the IV pump to infuse at

The IV pump infusion rate = 0.05ml per minute

Step-by-step explanation:

available concentration = 50 mg per 250 ml of D5W

This means that

250 ml of D5W contains 50 mg

note that

mg = milligram

mcg = microgram

250 ml = 50mg

1ml = 50/250 mg

1ml = 0.2mg

Next, let us convert from milligram (mg) to microgam (mcg) since the unit of administration is in mcg.

1 mg = 1000 mcg

∴ 0.2 mg = 1000 × 0.2

= 200mcg

Therefore the available concentration 200mcg/ml

required concentration/min = 10

since 1 ml = 200mcg

1 mcg = (1 ÷ 200) ml

1 mcg =  0.005 ml

∴ 10 mcg = 0.005 × 10 = 0.05 ml

10 mcg is contained in 0.05 ml of the solution

Therefore, the IV pump infusion rate = 0.05ml per minute