If a nurse received a verbal order for 300 mL of IV fluids to run over 6 hours, what is the hourly rate?

To determine the hourly rate for administering 300 mL of IV fluids over 6 hours, you would divide the total volume of fluid by the total time in hours.

Calculating this, you would take 300 mL and divide it by 6 hours, which results in:

300 mL ÷ 6 hours = 50 mL/hour.

This calculation confirms that the correct hourly rate is 50 mL/hour. Understanding this calculation is crucial for nurses as it ensures the correct dosage is administered over the designated time, promoting patient safety and effective treatment outcomes.

The other options may suggest rates that would either under-deliver or over-deliver the fluids, potentially leading to inadequate treatment or fluid overload for the patient, hence why they are not the right choice.