help with a dosage calculation

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Q: The physician orders an IV of Pitocin 20 units in 1,000 ml of normal saline to run at 600 ml/hr. How many gtt/min would the infusion rate be for tubing that delivers 10 gtt/min?

I have trouble figuring out how to calculate to gtt/min. It showed the answer (100) when I got it wrong, but I still do not get how to get to that answer. I need help. I'm so confused with this one.

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Q: The physician orders an IV of Pitocin 20 units in 1,000 ml of normal saline to run at 600 ml/hr. How many gtt/min would the infusion rate be for tubing that delivers 10 gtt/min?

I have trouble figuring out how to calculate to gtt/min. It showed the answer (100) when I got it wrong, but I still do not get how to get to that answer. I need help. I'm so confused with this one.

I assume you mean the tubing is 10gtt/ml, not 10gtt/min,

So you are looking for gtt/min and you have everything you need. In fact, you have more than you need. You don't need the dosage or the size of the bag to get the rate.

To do this by dimensional analysis.

600ml/hr x 1hr/60min x 10gtt/ml = 100 gtt/min

In english you are converting the flow rate to milliliters per minute, then multiplying that by the tubing rate in drops per milliliter. Note above that milliliters and hours cancel out and you are left with a 100 drops per minute.

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That's why I was so confused! I guess it was a typo. Thank you so much for figuring it out and helping me!

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