IV drip rates

MikeyBSN · Oct 6, 2009

13 hours, 52.3 minutes.

RNKPCE · Oct 6, 2009

13.88 hours.

30gtts min x 60min = 1800gtts/hr 1800gtt/hr divided by 10gtts per ml =180ml/hr

2500ml divided by 180ml/hr = 13.52 minutes

I think this is right, anyone else?

LifelongDream · Oct 6, 2009

A DR orders 2500mL D-5-1\2 NS to be infused at 30 gtts/min. The drip factor is 10gtts/mL.
How long will it take for these fluids to be infused? min____________ & _____________hr.
HELLLLLPPP!
vickieegrove:confused:

min= 1min/30gtts x 10gtts/mL x 2500mL/1

All the units should cancel out except for minutes, which is what you need for your answer. Multiply all of the top numbers and then divide by the bottom numbers.

So, 1x10x2500 = 25000

Divided by 30=833.33 minutes

To find hours,

hr= 1hr/60min x 1min/30gtts x 10gtts/mL x 2500mL/1

All units cancel, except hrs which is what you need.

So, multiply across the top (1x1x10x2500) and divide by 60 and 30

So your answer is 13.89 hrs.

If your needing hrs w/ min., it would be 13 hrs and 53 minutes (53.4 min. to be exact! :). You figure this out by multiplying minutes in an hour x .89

Good luck! This is dimensional analysis. It will help you get med calculations right every time!

Bonnie Nurse · Oct 6, 2009

min = 1 min x 10 gtts x 2500 ml = 25000 = 833 min or 13.8 hrs

30 gtts 1 ml 1 30

13.8 hrs = 13 hrs and 48 min

GilaRRT · Oct 6, 2009

Drip Rate Formula to check the math guys:

Amount to infuse in ml * Drip Factor

---------------------------------------------- = drops per minute

Time of infusion in minutes

So, plug in the number to double check your work. The answer should be 30 drops per minute.

2,500 ml * 10 gtts/ml

-----------------------

830 minutes (13.83 hours)

25,000

---------

830

= 30.1 gtts/min

Yep, it's correct.

mamamerlee, LPN · Oct 6, 2009

In 35 yrs I have never seen an order like that one. Since very few MDs know what type of drip rates different IV sets can accommadate, they usually order things like 100ml/hr, or 1000ml/8hrs. But gtts/min? No way.

PurpleLVN · Oct 6, 2009

This may be true in the "real" world of nursing but I've had my share of gtts/min drip rates in LVN school. :imbar Sorry, just had a flashback!!

GilaRRT · Oct 6, 2009

In 35 yrs I have never seen an order like that one. Since very few MDs know what type of drip rates different IV sets can accommadate, they usually order things like 100ml/hr, or 1000ml/8hrs. But gtts/min? No way.

The question is more conceptual. We know that we will not encounter such orders; however, these types of questions are designed to make students solve unfamiliar variables. Therefore, this ensures the student has complete understanding of the formula.