[orachie]

Ok so I am very lost on these IV equations. I don't understand hwo to do them. Does anyone know where I can get a bunch of example equations online?

[futurecnm]

Originally Posted by orachie

Ok so I am very lost on these IV equations. I don't understand hwo to do them. Does anyone know where I can get a bunch of example equations online?

what part don't you understand? I just make sure I have the right units at the end. I think the equation is

IV rate = cc x drip rate / minutes

the drip rate is the number on the bag (10 or 60) and the units of that are drops/cc so that cancels out the cc and then you have drops/min.

[Daytonite]

There should be example problems worked out on this thread:

• http://allnurses.com/forums/f205/dosage-calculations-88867.html - Dosage Calculations (in the Nursing Student Assistance Forum)

There should also be links to Internet websites that have information and help to do dosage calculations on that thread including IV drip rate problems.

[locolorenzo22]

I understand....we're just reviewing starting IV calcs and it took me a little while to get the hang of it again....

Rate is simply the amount to infuse divided by how many hours you are to infuse it by.......

Drips per minute is the dose desired over the dose on hand x the drip factor.....

I finally got the hang of it again....

[Bonny619]

No, drips per minute is the amount (ml) x the drip factor, divided by the total number of minutes.

Originally Posted by locolorenzo22

I understand....we're just reviewing starting IV calcs and it took me a little while to get the hang of it again....

Rate is simply the amount to infuse divided by how many hours you are to infuse it by.......

Drips per minute is the dose desired over the dose on hand x the drip factor.....

I finally got the hang of it again....

[neneRN]

I copied this from a post I made a few years back, this is how I was taught in NS to figure out drip rates for IVF and piggybacks...I don't know why more schools don't teach this method....

Calculating IV flow rates using MAGIC NUMBER method-
Determining which "magic number" you will use depends on your tubing gtt size.
(60 divided by gtt size equals magic number)
For example,
60 gtt tubing; 60 divided by 60 equals ONE.
15 gtt tubing; 60 divided by 15, equals FOUR.
10 gtt tubing; 60 divided by 10 equals SIX.

Okay, so once you know which "magic number" you're using, you then divide your ordered rate (ml/hr) by the magic number to get your gtts/min.

For example,
You have an order for NS at 120cc/hr using 15 gtt tubing. What is your drip rate in gtts/min?

60 divided by 15 equals FOUR (magic number)
120 cc/hr divided by 4 equals 30 gtts/min.

Another example,
Your order is to infuse D5NS at 240ml/hr using 10 gtt tubing. What is your drip rate in gtts/min?

60 divided by 10 equals SIX (magic number)
240ml/hr divided by 6 equals 40 gtts/min