If the IV order is for 250 mL to infuse over 1 hour, how many mL/hr should the nurse set the pump to deliver?

To determine the infusion rate in mL/hr, you can use the formula for calculating the flow rate for intravenous fluids. In this case, the order specifies that 250 mL should be infused over a duration of 1 hour.

To find the mL/hr rate, you simply take the total volume of fluid to be infused (250 mL) and divide it by the total time in hours (1 hour). The calculation would look like this:

250 mL ÷ 1 hour = 250 mL/hr

Therefore, the correct answer reflects the calculated infusion rate that the nurse should set on the pump to ensure that the patient receives the exact amount prescribed within the specified timeframe. Setting the pump to 250 mL/hr ensures that the entire 250 mL will be administered efficiently over the period of one hour, achieving the desired therapeutic effect without risk of under or over-infusion.