One math prob that could help please regarding infusion rate

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How to work this one out? If you are good at math I could use your help on this homework problem.

infuse 500 ml of lactated ringers over 4 hours / tubing that has a drop factor of 15 gtt/ml. What is the infusion rate in gtt/min?

that is a very interesting way of looking at it :)

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Specializes in Med/Surg, DSU, Ortho, Onc, Psych.

Sorry my maths equation didn't save very well, but I think you know how I mean to set it out! Also round up/down your answers to the nearest whole number.

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Specializes in Vascular Access.

There is really not a whole lot of need to memorize anything but the formula to figure out flow rate, in this situation. If you have 500 cc going in over 4 hours,

you will follow the formula to figure out flow rate which is:

Volume to be infused divided by time in hours. (That is your key... So 50 cc divided by 30 minutes would be 50/0.5, or 100cc/hr)

Then, once you have flow rate, as a previous poster alluded to,

use the appropriate equivelant to divide into your volume..i.e.

If your tubing is a macro gtt tubing and allows for 10 gtts to infuse per ml, then think of a clock.

How many 10 second increments are their in a minute? The answer is 6. Divide your flow rate by 6 and you'll get gtts per minute.

If your tubing is 15gtt/ml. There are 4, 15 second increments in a minute, so divide your flow rate by 4.

20 gtts/ml tubing = divide by 3

And mini, or micro gtt tubing (60gtts/ml), divide your flow rate by 1.

Hope that makes things clearer.

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Specializes in M/S, ICU, ICP.
i have been using google but just wanted help getting on track with one math problem, i don't appreciate you being so condescending

it would be a little nicer to use the quote feature so as to clarify who you are addressing this entry to as the majority of responses seem to be trying to help.

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Formula is always:

Volume to be infused

_________________ X Drop factor (gtts)

Hours (into minutes)

So your equation would be

500 divided by 240 (there 240 minutes in 4 hours) multiplied by your drop factor of 15.

It comes out to 31.25, but you obviously can't have "quarter of a drop" so you round it down to 31.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
I have been using google but just wanted help getting on track with one math problem, I don't appreciate you being so condescending

If you meant me.......?

I did not mean it as being condescending...........sorry you took it that way I think the LMGTFY is a riot........no sarcasm meant xo:)

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Specializes in Med Surg, Ortho.
If you meant me.......?

I did not mean it as being condescending...........sorry you took it that way I think the LMGTFY is a riot........no sarcasm meant xo:)

I love it! Had no idea that URL existed, how funny. :yeah:

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Specializes in Med/Surg, DSU, Ortho, Onc, Psych.

What does LMGTFY mean?

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
What does LMGTFY mean?

It's the link to Let Me Goggle That For You http://lmgtfy.com/ It's hysterical!

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:hhmth: I am currently studying for my NCLEX... I soooooooo needed that laugh!!

I am literally bent over in hysterics!! Too funny!!

=)

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Specializes in LTC, Memory loss, PDN.
It's the link to Let Me Goggle That For You http://lmgtfy.com/ It's hysterical!

Oh yeaaaah. I didn't know about it, but I am planning to wear it out. :D

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I used the dimensional analysis. For me it never goes wrong.

gtt/min= 15gtt/mL X 500ml/4hrs X 1 hr/60mins= 31 gtt/min

Everything cancels out and your only left with gtt/min and that how you know that you set it up right. Hope this helps.

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