Math Help Once More

[Quidam]

The physician orders 1000 cc normal saline and two liters of D5W to run consecutively over 24 hours. If the drop factor is 20 gtts/minute, how fast should the normal saline run? (Ml/HR)

Once again I am having set up problems with this one.

Thanks!

Quidam

[Quidam]

Ok...I have figured out that 300 mL divided by 24 hours is 125 mL per hour. What I am wondering is why the drop factor is irrelevant in this problem. I am using dimensional analysis...and set up sometimes gives me trouble.

Thanks again.

Quidam

[donsterRN, ASN, BSN]

The drop factor is relevant if your answer needs to be reported in gtts/min instead of mL/hr...

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

the physician orders 1000 cc normal saline and two liters of d5w to run consecutively over 24 hours. if the drop factor is 20 gtts/minute, how fast should the normal saline run? (ml/hr)

1000cc is 1 liter. to restate the problem another way 3000cc of iv fluid have been ordered to be infused over 24 hours. that is 3000cc divided by 24 hours, or

125 cc of iv fluid per hour

that needs to be infusing. the bag of normal saline, the first 1000 cc's is going to run at this 125 cc's/hour. the drop factor is extraneous information because the drip rate was not asked for. however, if you want to know the drip rate for 125 cc/hour with 20 gtts/ml tubing, here is the math (cc = ml):

125 ml/hour

(iv rate)

x 20 gtts/ml

(drop factor of iv tubing)

x 1 hour/60 minutes

(conversion factor)

= 41.666,

rounded off to

42 gtts/minute

(drip rate)

[Quidam]

Once again, I thank you for your explanation. It helps so much.