TheoryIV Therapy Certification Prep
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30 free IV Therapy Certification Prep questions
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IV Therapy Certification Prep
A physician orders 500 mL of lactated Ringer's solution to infuse over 4 hours. What is the correct infusion rate in mL/hr?
Correct — D. To calculate mL/hr, divide the total volume by the time in hours: 500 mL divided by 4 hours = 125 mL/hr. -
IV Therapy Certification Prep
An order reads: Infuse 1500 mL D5W over 12 hours using tubing with a drop factor of 10 gtt/mL. What is the correct drip rate in drops per minute?
Correct — C. Using the formula (Volume × Drop factor) divided by Time in minutes: (1500 × 10) divided by 720 minutes = 15000 divided by 720 = 20.8, which rounds to 21 gtt/min. -
IV Therapy Certification Prep
A patient weighing 70 kg requires dopamine at 5 mcg/kg/min. The solution concentration is 400 mg in 250 mL. What infusion rate in mL/hr should be set?
Correct — B. First calculate the dose: 70 kg × 5 mcg/kg/min = 350 mcg/min. Convert to mg/min: 350 mcg divided by 1000 = 0.35 mg/min. Convert to mg/hr: 0.35 × 60 = 21 mg/hr. Calculate concentration: 400 mg in 250 mL = 1.6 mg/mL. Finally: 21 mg/hr divided by 1.6 mg/mL = 13.125 mL/hr, rounds to 13.1 mL/hr. -
IV Therapy Certification Prep
A medication order specifies 250 mg in 100 mL to infuse over 30 minutes. What is the infusion rate in mL/hr?
Correct — A. To convert 30 minutes to an hourly rate: 100 mL in 30 minutes equals 100 mL divided by 0.5 hours = 200 mL/hr. Alternatively, 100 mL × 2 (since 30 min is half an hour) = 200 mL/hr. -
IV Therapy Certification Prep
An IV is infusing at 125 mL/hr. Using tubing with a drop factor of 20 gtt/mL, what is the drip rate in drops per minute?
Correct — D. Convert mL/hr to mL/min first: 125 mL/hr divided by 60 min = 2.083 mL/min. Then multiply by drop factor: 2.083 × 20 = 41.66, which rounds to 42 gtt/min. Alternatively, use the formula: (mL/hr × Drop factor) divided by 60 = (125 × 20) divided by 60 = 41.66, rounds to 42 gtt/min. -
IV Therapy Certification Prep
A vial contains 1 gram of medication powder. The reconstitution instructions state to add 9.6 mL of sterile water to yield 10 mL of solution. What is the final concentration in mg/mL?
Correct — C. Convert 1 gram to milligrams: 1 g = 1000 mg. The final volume is 10 mL. Concentration = 1000 mg divided by 10 mL = 100 mg/mL. -
IV Therapy Certification Prep
A patient weighing 55 kg needs a loading dose of a medication at 15 mg/kg. How many milligrams should be administered?
Correct — B. Multiply the patient's weight by the dose per kilogram: 55 kg × 15 mg/kg = 825 mg. -
IV Therapy Certification Prep
An infusion of 1000 mL is running at 75 mL/hr. How many hours will it take for the infusion to complete?
Correct — A. Divide the total volume by the infusion rate: 1000 mL divided by 75 mL/hr = 13.33 hours, which is approximately 13 hours and 20 minutes. -
IV Therapy Certification Prep
A physician orders 2000 mL of 0.45 percent sodium chloride to infuse over 24 hours using microdrip tubing (60 gtt/mL). What is the drip rate in drops per minute?
Correct — D. Using the formula (Volume × Drop factor) divided by Time in minutes: (2000 × 60) divided by 1440 minutes = 120000 divided by 1440 = 83.33, which rounds to 83 gtt/min. With microdrip (60 gtt/mL), the drip rate equals the mL/hr rate numerically: 2000 divided by 24 = 83.33 mL/hr = 83 gtt/min. -
IV Therapy Certification Prep
A medication label states 50 mg/2 mL. The order is for 35 mg. How many milliliters should be drawn up?
Correct — C. Set up a proportion: 50 mg / 2 mL = 35 mg / X mL. Cross multiply: 50X = 70. Solve for X: X = 70 divided by 50 = 1.4 mL. -
IV Therapy Certification Prep
An IV pump is infusing at 80 mL/hr. After 5 hours, how many milliliters will have been infused?
Correct — B. Multiply the infusion rate by the time: 80 mL/hr × 5 hours = 400 mL. -
IV Therapy Certification Prep
A patient weighing 80 kg requires heparin at 18 units/kg/hr. The heparin concentration is 25,000 units in 500 mL. What is the infusion rate in mL/hr?
Correct — A. Calculate the dose: 80 kg × 18 units/kg/hr = 1440 units/hr. Calculate concentration: 25000 units in 500 mL = 50 units/mL. Calculate rate: 1440 units/hr divided by 50 units/mL = 28.8 mL/hr. -
IV Therapy Certification Prep
An order reads: Infuse 750 mL over 6 hours using tubing with a drop factor of 15 gtt/mL. What is the drip rate in drops per minute?
Correct — D. Using the formula (Volume × Drop factor) divided by Time in minutes: (750 × 15) divided by 360 minutes = 11250 divided by 360 = 31.25, which rounds to 31 gtt/min. -
IV Therapy Certification Prep
A medication is available as 0.5 mg/mL. The order is for 750 mcg. How many milliliters should be administered?
Correct — C. First convert the order to the same units as the available concentration. 750 mcg = 0.75 mg. Set up proportion: 0.5 mg / 1 mL = 0.75 mg / X mL. Solve: X = 0.75 divided by 0.5 = 1.5 mL. -
IV Therapy Certification Prep
An infusion of 250 mL is to be completed in 90 minutes. What is the infusion rate in mL/hr?
Correct — B. Convert minutes to hours: 90 minutes = 1.5 hours. Calculate rate: 250 mL divided by 1.5 hours = 166.67 mL/hr, which rounds to 167 mL/hr. -
IV Therapy Certification Prep
A patient requires nitroglycerin at 10 mcg/min. The concentration is 50 mg in 250 mL. What is the infusion rate in mL/hr?
Correct — A. Convert dose to same units: 10 mcg/min = 0.01 mg/min. Convert to mg/hr: 0.01 × 60 = 0.6 mg/hr. Calculate concentration: 50 mg in 250 mL = 0.2 mg/mL. Calculate rate: 0.6 mg/hr divided by 0.2 mg/mL = 3 mL/hr. -
IV Therapy Certification Prep
An IV bag contains 1000 mL. It has been infusing at 100 mL/hr for 3 hours. How much fluid remains in the bag?
Correct — D. Calculate amount infused: 100 mL/hr × 3 hours = 300 mL. Subtract from total: 1000 mL - 300 mL = 700 mL remaining. -
IV Therapy Certification Prep
A medication order is for 0.25 grams. The vial is labeled 500 mg/10 mL. How many milliliters should be drawn up?
Correct — C. Convert grams to milligrams: 0.25 g = 250 mg. Determine concentration: 500 mg in 10 mL = 50 mg/mL. Calculate volume: 250 mg divided by 50 mg/mL = 5 mL. -
IV Therapy Certification Prep
An infusion pump is set at 150 mL/hr. How many milliliters will infuse in 45 minutes?
Correct — B. Convert time to hours: 45 minutes = 0.75 hours. Calculate volume: 150 mL/hr × 0.75 hours = 112.5 mL. -
IV Therapy Certification Prep
A patient weighing 60 kg needs an antibiotic dosed at 40 mg/kg/day divided into three equal doses. How many milligrams should be given per dose?
Correct — A. Calculate total daily dose: 60 kg × 40 mg/kg/day = 2400 mg/day. Divide by number of doses: 2400 mg divided by 3 doses = 800 mg per dose. -
IV Therapy Certification Prep
A patient receiving 3 percent sodium chloride develops confusion, muscle twitching, and seizures. Which complication is most likely occurring?
Correct — D. 3 percent sodium chloride is a hypertonic solution that can cause rapid shifts in sodium levels. These neurological symptoms indicate hypernatremia from too rapid correction or overinfusion, causing cellular dehydration in the brain. -
IV Therapy Certification Prep
Which IV solution is classified as isotonic and most appropriate for treating hypovolemia in a trauma patient?
Correct — C. 0.9 percent sodium chloride (normal saline) is an isotonic crystalloid solution with osmolarity similar to blood plasma. It is the first-line fluid for volume resuscitation in trauma because it expands intravascular volume without causing fluid shifts between compartments. -
IV Therapy Certification Prep
A nurse is preparing to administer furosemide and gentamicin through the same IV line. What is the most appropriate action?
Correct — B. Furosemide and gentamicin are incompatible when mixed together as they form a precipitate. The line must be flushed with normal saline between administrations to prevent chemical incompatibility and ensure patient safety. -
IV Therapy Certification Prep
Which adverse effect requires immediate discontinuation of a vancomycin infusion?
Correct — A. Red man syndrome is a histamine-mediated reaction to rapid vancomycin infusion characterized by flushing, pruritus, and hypotension affecting the face, neck, and upper torso. The infusion must be stopped immediately and the provider notified. -
IV Therapy Certification Prep
A patient with cerebral edema requires a hypertonic solution to reduce intracranial pressure. Which solution should be selected?
Correct — D. 3 percent sodium chloride is a hypertonic solution with higher osmolarity than plasma. It draws fluid from the interstitial and intracellular spaces into the vascular space, thereby reducing cerebral edema and intracranial pressure. -
IV Therapy Certification Prep
Which electrolyte must be diluted and administered slowly via infusion pump, never as IV push, due to risk of cardiac arrest?
Correct — C. Potassium chloride must always be diluted and infused slowly via pump because rapid administration or bolus injection can cause fatal cardiac arrhythmias and cardiac arrest. Direct IV push of potassium is never appropriate. -
IV Therapy Certification Prep
What is the primary mechanism of action of lactated Ringer's solution in treating metabolic acidosis?
Correct — B. Lactated Ringer's contains lactate, which is metabolized by the liver to bicarbonate. This bicarbonate acts as a buffer to neutralize excess hydrogen ions, thereby correcting metabolic acidosis and restoring normal pH balance. -
IV Therapy Certification Prep
A patient receiving D5W (5 percent dextrose in water) continuously for 24 hours is at risk for which complication?
Correct — A. D5W is initially isotonic but becomes hypotonic once dextrose is metabolized. Prolonged infusion causes fluid to shift into cells, diluting extracellular sodium and resulting in hyponatremia with symptoms such as confusion and lethargy. -
IV Therapy Certification Prep
Which medication class requires monitoring for phlebitis and should be infused through a large vein or central line when possible?
Correct — D. Vesicant chemotherapy agents cause severe tissue damage if extravasated and are highly irritating to vessel walls, leading to phlebitis. They should be administered through large veins or preferably central lines to minimize risk. -
IV Therapy Certification Prep
Before administering IV calcium gluconate, the nurse should assess for concurrent infusion of which incompatible solution?
Correct — C. Calcium gluconate is incompatible with sodium bicarbonate and forms a precipitate when mixed. The two should never be infused through the same line simultaneously, as this creates a chemical incompatibility hazard.
IV Therapy Certification Prep sample questions
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IV Therapy Certification Prep A nurse is preparing to administer furosemide and gentamicin through the same IV line. What is the most appropriate action?
A. Administer both medications simultaneously
B. Flush the line with normal saline between medications ✓
C. Mix the medications in one syringe
D. Dilute both medications together in a minibag
Correct — B. Furosemide and gentamicin are incompatible when mixed together as they form a precipitate. The line must be flushed with normal saline between administrations to prevent chemical incompatibility and ensure patient safety.
IV Therapy Certification Prep Which adverse effect requires immediate discontinuation of a vancomycin infusion?
A. Red man syndrome with flushing and hypotension ✓
B. Mild nausea
C. Slight burning at the IV site
D. Elevated blood pressure
Correct — A. Red man syndrome is a histamine-mediated reaction to rapid vancomycin infusion characterized by flushing, pruritus, and hypotension affecting the face, neck, and upper torso. The infusion must be stopped immediately and the provider notified.
IV Therapy Certification Prep A patient with cerebral edema requires a hypertonic solution to reduce intracranial pressure. Which solution should be selected?
A. Lactated Ringer's solution
B. 0.45 percent sodium chloride
C. 5 percent dextrose in water
D. 3 percent sodium chloride ✓
Correct — D. 3 percent sodium chloride is a hypertonic solution with higher osmolarity than plasma. It draws fluid from the interstitial and intracellular spaces into the vascular space, thereby reducing cerebral edema and intracranial pressure.
IV Therapy Certification Prep Which electrolyte must be diluted and administered slowly via infusion pump, never as IV push, due to risk of cardiac arrest?
A. Calcium gluconate
B. Sodium chloride
C. Potassium chloride ✓
D. Magnesium sulfate
Correct — C. Potassium chloride must always be diluted and infused slowly via pump because rapid administration or bolus injection can cause fatal cardiac arrhythmias and cardiac arrest. Direct IV push of potassium is never appropriate.
IV Therapy Certification Prep What is the primary mechanism of action of lactated Ringer's solution in treating metabolic acidosis?
A. Direct infusion of bicarbonate neutralizes acid
B. Lactate is converted to bicarbonate, buffering excess acid ✓
C. Sodium binds to hydrogen ions
D. Chloride enhances renal acid excretion
Correct — B. Lactated Ringer's contains lactate, which is metabolized by the liver to bicarbonate. This bicarbonate acts as a buffer to neutralize excess hydrogen ions, thereby correcting metabolic acidosis and restoring normal pH balance.
IV Therapy Certification Prep A patient receiving D5W (5 percent dextrose in water) continuously for 24 hours is at risk for which complication?
A. Hyponatremia ✓
B. Hypernatremia
C. Hyperkalemia
D. Metabolic acidosis
Correct — A. D5W is initially isotonic but becomes hypotonic once dextrose is metabolized. Prolonged infusion causes fluid to shift into cells, diluting extracellular sodium and resulting in hyponatremia with symptoms such as confusion and lethargy.
IV Therapy Certification Prep Which medication class requires monitoring for phlebitis and should be infused through a large vein or central line when possible?
A. Acetaminophen
B. Penicillin antibiotics
C. Normal saline
D. Vesicant chemotherapy agents ✓
Correct — D. Vesicant chemotherapy agents cause severe tissue damage if extravasated and are highly irritating to vessel walls, leading to phlebitis. They should be administered through large veins or preferably central lines to minimize risk.
IV Therapy Certification Prep Before administering IV calcium gluconate, the nurse should assess for concurrent infusion of which incompatible solution?
A. 5 percent dextrose in water
B. Normal saline
C. Sodium bicarbonate ✓
D. Lactated Ringer's solution
Correct — C. Calcium gluconate is incompatible with sodium bicarbonate and forms a precipitate when mixed. The two should never be infused through the same line simultaneously, as this creates a chemical incompatibility hazard.
About the IV Therapy Certification Prep test
IV Therapy Certification Prep candidates are tested on Other and Pharmacology Related To Iv Therapy, in the same format the real exam uses. Every question here comes with a plain-language explanation, so you learn why an answer is right instead of memorising it — with 30 questions to start on.
You will be tested on
- Hazard identification and risk control
- Required workplace procedures
- Personal protective equipment and safe practice
- Compliance, reporting and documentation
How TheoryPractice helps you pass
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Topics in this question bank
Hazard identification and risk control
Required workplace procedures
Personal protective equipment and safe practice
Compliance, reporting and documentation
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