How to calculate the dosage and infusion rate for administration of intravenous medicines

RATIONALE AND KEY POINTS: The administration of intravenous (IV) medicines, including calculating the required dosage and infusion rate, is a fundamental nursing proficiency. Mistakes in IV medicine dose and infusion rate calculations are a significant factor in medication errors, so it is essential that nurses, and other healthcare professionals who undertake this task, can make these calculations accurately. Nurses undertaking IV drug calculations must have the knowledge and skills required to do so safely and accurately and must work within their level of competence. • IV administration of medicines (which includes fluids and blood products) has several advantages over the oral route including faster onset of action, as therapeutic levels are more rapidly attained, and avoidance of issues that affect absorption via the gastrointestinal tract. • There is an increased risk of adverse effects if errors in IV dosage calculation or infusion rate are made because of the rapid onset of action of IV medicines with no way of reversing this. • To undertake accurate drug dosage and infusion rate calculations, nurses need to be confident in using basic mathematical principles and be familiar with the different types of equipment used to administer IV medicines. REFLECTIVE ACTIVITY: 'How to' articles can help to update your practice and ensure it remains evidence based. Apply this article to your practice. Reflect on and write a short account of: • How this article might enhance your ability to undertake accurate drug dosage and infusion rate calculations when administering IV medicines. • How you could use this information to educate nursing students or colleagues in making accurate drug dose and infusion rate calculations for the administration of IV medicines.