IV Drip Rate Formula

mel82 said:

Does anyone have a simple Iv drip rate they would care to share?

Thanks.

To calculate drops per minute:

total volume x drop factor(on the tubing)

__________________________________

total time in minutes

Calculate ml/hr:

total voume in ML's

________________

total time in hours

To calculate ml\hr when infusion time is less than one hour:

total volume x (mL/h)

________________ = __________

total time(minutes) 60 minutes

I hope this helps

Thank you, that does look easier than what my teacher told us.

Drops over time times ml = gtt/min

I always think of a drunk to remember this, like a drunk with DT's

vd/t (volume x drop factor/ time)

That's how I remember it! At the same time we were learning this formula I had to prepare a presentation for my clinical site on STDs and a lot of patients still referred to them as VDs. So that formula REALLY stuck in my head after that.

To get drips per a mininue first find out what it is for ml/hr:

1.) volume/given hours

2.) hourly volume/60 x drop factor

If the worst happens and you can't remember the formulas, you can set up a ratio & proportion to solve most anything; can go from total ml, to ml/hr,to gtts, if all else fails.