Help!! Question on pretest about IV rates and tubing

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I recently started a new job, I am a new RN. I have to take a pharm test on MOnday and one of the questions that they have given us to study is in regards to flow rates. I can figure out the flow rate. That is not my problem. They then ask you when comparing the rate between micro and macro tubing which would you use and hwy. I can't find anything in any of my books to help me with this. Any advice. Dawn

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Specializes in OR.

I have this information in my "Calculate with Confidence" book by Deborah Gray Morris

It says:

"The two common types of tubing used to administer I.V. fluids are as follows:

MACRODRIP TUBING

This is the standard type of tubing used for general I.V. administration. This type of tubing delivers a certain number of gtt/mL, as specified by the manufacturer. Macrodrip tubing delivers 10, 15 or 20 gtts equal to 1 mL. Macrodrips are large drops; tehrefore, large amounts of fluid are administered in macrodrops.

MICRODRIP TUBING

Microdrip tubing delivers tiny drops, which can be inferred from micro. It is used when small amounts and more exact measurements are needed, for example, in peds, for the elderly, and in critical care settings. Microdrip tubing delivers 60 gtt equal to 1 mL. Because there are 60 minutes in an hour, the number of microdrips per minute is equal to the number of mL/hr. For example, if clients are receiving 100 mL/hr, they are receiving 100 microdrops/min."

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60 drop tubing (or microdrip) is more refined. If you want 120 ml to manually infuse over an hour-use microdrip tubing at 120 drops per minute. The rate is equal to the drops per minute. We mainly use it for free flowing antibiotics. Easy to figure out and a lot less math.

Everything else is macro tubing. Don't expect much in terms of IV pumps

in regards to test purposes. Concentrate more on macrotubing calc's due

to testing purposes (difference in rate with 10, 15,20, and 30 drop tubing)

I never use it in the ICU setting with the infusion pumps. On rare occasions

it comes in handy. It's old school stuff...always good to know.

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