A healthcare provider prescribes a maintenance dose of 2 grams per hour of intravenous magnesium sulfate for a client with preeclampsia.

The IV bag contains 20 grams of magnesium sulfate in 500 mL of 5% dextrose in water.

How many mL/hour should the nurse set the infusion pump to deliver? (Note: This is a medical math, so no options are provided.)

Choice A rationale

Poor appetite can be a symptom of many neonatal conditions, but it's not the most common complication specifically associated with cephalhematoma.

Choice B rationale

Cephalhematomas are caused by the rupture of blood vessels between the skull and periosteum, resulting in a blood collection. The breakdown of red blood cells in this trapped blood can lead to the release of bilirubin, increasing an infant's risk for hyperbilirubinemia and jaundice.

Choice C rationale

Hypoglycemia is a potential concern in neonates but is not directly related to cephalhematoma.

Choice D rationale

While brain damage is a serious potential complication in cases of severe skull trauma, it's not typically associated with cephalhematoma alone. Cephalhematomas usually resolve on their own without long-term consequences.

To calculate the rate at which the infusion pump should be set, we need to determine how many mL of the solution contain 2 grams of magnesium sulfate.

Step 1: First, we find out how many grams of magnesium sulfate are in 1 mL of the solution. The IV bag contains 20 grams of magnesium sulfate in 500 mL, so we divide 20 grams by 500 mL to get the amount of magnesium sulfate per mL: 20 grams ÷ 500 mL = 0.04 grams/mL

Step 2: Next, we find out how many mL contain 2 grams of magnesium sulfate.

We divide 2 grams by the amount of magnesium sulfate per mL: 2 grams ÷ 0.04 grams/mL = 50 mL Therefore, the nurse should set the infusion pump to deliver 50 mL per hour.