Dosage question

[laurie121]

I have 2 dosage questions that I have no idea how to figure out, it is for gravity drip rate.

Here are the questions.

1. An IV is ordered to run at 125 ml/hr. The IV tubing has a drop factor of 15 gtt/ml. What is the gravity drip rate the patient is to receive?

2. IV fluids are ordered as follows, 1000 cc NSS to infuse at 250 cc/hr. The IV tubing drop factor is 10 gtt/ml. What is the gravity drip rate the patient is to receive?

Thanks for any help!

[Momofzra]

Hi Laurie121!

In the first problem, you need to convert the ml/hr to gtts/min. Here is how I would set up the first problem..

125ml/1hr x 15 gtts/1ml x 1hr/60min. If you cancel out what needs to be cancelled, you will get to gtts/min.

I hope this helps and that you will be able to figure out the second one. (hint..cc's and ml's are the same..) :)

[toya932]

Hello. For questions like these use this formula:

Ml/minutes x drip factor.

Since the first problem states 1 hour that is 60 minutes. So you would set up as so:

125 ml/ 60 minutes x drip factor which was provided.

Good luck!

[laurie121]

thanks, the answer the teacher has is 31 gtts/min, but I don't get that for what you said. thanks!

[THELIVINGWORST, ASN, RN]

thanks the answer the teacher has is 31 gtts/min, but I don't get that for what you said. thanks![/quote']

You are doing it wrong then, bc I got what your teacher got using the same method pp suggested

[THELIVINGWORST, ASN, RN]

15 gtt x 125ml /60 min gives you 31.25 gtts/min or 31gtts/min

Because

15 gtt. X 125mL

______. ______. = 31.25 gtt/ min

1 mL 60 min

You have to cancel out mLs since they cross cancel each other

[RLtinker, LPN]

Answer to number 1 is 31 gtt/min and number 2 is 42 gtt/min. Both are rounded to the whole drop since you can't have a partial drop.

Quantity X gtt

------------------- = gtt/min

Time(in minutes)