how many gtts in a ml?

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by nurse_bride
Jul 14, '02   Views: 32,897   Comments: 12

  1. I am at work, and i have a pt with a chylis (doesn't happen often). I am alone (no other nurses) and i need to know jow many gtts in a ml, it is infusing at 16gtts per min, i want to write how many ml per hour. there is no set rate, it is palliative care.

    thanks, i know this is a dumb question!
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    About nurse_bride

    Joined: Jul '02; Posts: 8

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  3. by Andy S.
    Jul 14, '02
    Joined: Jul '01; Posts: 162; Likes: 82
    nurse_bride,
    It all depends on your tubing. Most IV tubing is 10 gtts/ml, but peds is 60gtts/ml. Check your packaging and it should tell you.
    Good luck, sorry you are working by yourself!
    Andy
  4. by nurse_bride
    Jul 14, '02
    Joined: Jul '02; Posts: 8
    i know, but what is the formula? i am on night shift alone, sucks!
  5. by nurse_bride
    Jul 14, '02
    Joined: Jul '02; Posts: 8
    never mind, duh!!! i figured it out
    drop factor is 10 per ml
  6. by AJACKT33Z
    Jul 14, '02
    Occupation: LVN Joined: Sep '00; Posts: 49
    4-5gtt's = 1 ml 60gtt's = 5ml not agreed to accuracy-- 1 minim = 1gtt , not exact.
  7. by donmurray
    Jul 14, '02
    Occupation: RN, Elderly Mental health Joined: Jun '01; Posts: 3,115; Likes: 51
    What is a gtt? I know a minim as an archaic unit of measurement.
  8. by live4today
    Jul 14, '02
    Joined: Sep '01; Posts: 16,606; Likes: 680
    Back in the 1980's when I went to school

    1ml (or 1cc) = 15-16 minums.

    0.06 ml = 1 minum = 1 gtt [gtt stands for "drop"]

    :kiss
  9. by donmurray
    Jul 14, '02
    Occupation: RN, Elderly Mental health Joined: Jun '01; Posts: 3,115; Likes: 51
    Thank you, I think! but how does "gtt" get to be "drop"? sorry to be so thick!
  10. by AJACKT33Z
    Jul 15, '02
    Occupation: LVN Joined: Sep '00; Posts: 49
    cheerful, I stand corrected-(-no use = forgetting) gtt= gutta, a drop.God I hate to be misstaken in calc's--one of my strong areas---well , the memory is the 2nd thing to go!!!!
  11. by NurseDennie
    Jul 15, '02
    Occupation: research nurse Joined: Oct '01; Posts: 1,878; Likes: 44
    Originally posted by AJACKT33Z
    ---well , the memory is the 2nd thing to go!!!!
    I've heard that, too. But I never quote it, because some jerk ALWAYS asks what the first thing to go was, and I can't remember!!!! I mean, that's a joke, isn't it? But I really can't. It was either close vision or knees.

    Love

    Dennie
  12. by KarafromPhilly
    Jul 15, '02
    Occupation: midnite RN Specialty: cardiac ICU ; Joined: Jun '02; Posts: 230; Likes: 120
    ok, here's the rule, imho the simplest way to remember.

    first, what is cc/hr? if you are using micro-tubing, you're in luck--cc/hr = drops/min with micro-tubing (tubing with drop factor of 60).
    (drop factor is the number of drops from this tubing that = 1 cc.)
    if drop factor is 15, divide cc/hr by 4 for drop/min.
    if drop factor is 10, divide cc/hr by 6 for drop/min.
    :spin: yer home free! :spin:
  13. by Teshiee
    Jul 16, '02
    Joined: Nov '01; Posts: 765; Likes: 14
    If you set it on a pump it will be 60 gtts a minute regardless what tubing you put in. :-)

    Cheerfuldoer I haven't seen that formula since nursing school gosh! :-) Bringing back pharmacology memories!!!!!
  14. by KarafromPhilly
    Jul 17, '02
    Occupation: midnite RN Specialty: cardiac ICU ; Joined: Jun '02; Posts: 230; Likes: 120
    If you set it on a pump, why would you count the drops? I don't mean to sound rude or anything, but I thought we were talking about drip rates because the IV was not on a pump, just a roller clamp to adjust.

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