Rate Conversions
Online Module

Module Overview

In this module, we will continue applying our understanding of ratios, dimensional analysis, and proportional reasoning to medication administration and fluid delivery.

Our focus will be on rate conversions, which involve determining how much medication or fluid should be delivered over a particular period of time. In clinical settings, medications and IV fluids are often prescribed at a specific rate, but the units used in the medication order may differ from those used to administer the medication.

For example, a medication may be ordered in mg/min or units/min, while an IV infusion pump is programmed to deliver fluid in mL/hr. To determine the appropriate pump setting, we must consider the medication's concentration, the prescribed rate, and any necessary conversions between units of time.

Be sure to download and print the module guide to help you keep track of your notes and completed work. 

This module is required.. 

Module outcomes:

• • Interpret medication orders and IV solution labels involving rates of administration.

  • Convert between units of time and infusion rates using ratios, proportions, and dimensional analysis.

  • Calculate IV infusion pump settings (mL/hr) using prescribed medication rates and available medication concentrations.

  • Evaluate the reasonableness of calculated infusion rates by considering units, medication concentrations, and clinical context.

The first section of this module focuses on rate calculations. Many of these calculations build on concepts we've already learned (rate conversions), so much of the material should serve as a review. 

However, we'll also introduce several new concepts that are essential for medication administration. 

In clinical practice, providers often order medications to be administered continuously at a specified rate, such as a certain number of units, milliunits, grams, milligrams, micrograms, or milliequivalents (mEq) per hour.  Because these medications are typically delivered from an IV bag using an infusion pump, we must determine the correct infusion rate. These types of calculations are especially common when administering electrolytes, which are frequently prescribed in milliequivalents (mEq) per hour. 

The first video begins with the foundational concepts and rate conversions, then the additional videos introduce new ideas needed for infusion rate calculations with multiple examples. 

Please watch the three videos and follow along on your module guide. 

As you could see in the videos above, it is crucial to think “what must the patient receive?” and then consider what unit we need to convert to (mL/hr, gtt/min). Students who have a solid understanding of dimensional analysis tend to “enjoy” these problems because these problems can usually be completed with a few steps of dimensional analysis.

Remember, just plan out your steps and the dimensional analysis flows from that!

Please be sure to practice the examples below.