A patient has two intravenous lines: one delivering 45 mL per hour and the other 30 mL per hour. What total volume will the patient receive in 24 hours?

A patient has two intravenous lines: one delivering 45 mL per hour and the other 30 mL per hour. What total volume will the patient receive in 24 hours?

• A. 1500 mL
• B. 1800 mL
• C. 2000 mL
• D. 2100 mL

Answer: (B)

When two IV lines run at the same time, you add their infusion rates to get the total delivery rate. Here, 45 mL per hour plus 30 mL per hour equals 75 mL per hour. To find how much the patient receives in 24 hours, multiply the hourly rate by the number of hours in a day: 75 × 24 = 1800 mL. So the patient would receive 1800 mL in 24 hours. The other numbers come from using the wrong total hourly rate or the wrong time period.

When two IV lines run at the same time, you add their infusion rates to get the total delivery rate. Here, 45 mL per hour plus 30 mL per hour equals 75 mL per hour. To find how much the patient receives in 24 hours, multiply the hourly rate by the number of hours in a day: 75 × 24 = 1800 mL. So the patient would receive 1800 mL in 24 hours. The other numbers come from using the wrong total hourly rate or the wrong time period.