Question

You receive an order to run an IV at 1 L over 8 hours. What would be the number of drops per minute if you set a drop factor of 10 gtts/mL for this order? (answer should be rounded to the nearest whole number.)
A. 21 gtts/min
B. 80 gtts/min
C. 200 gtts/min
D. 1000 gtts/

Answer 1

To calculate the number of drops per minute (gtts/min) for the IV order, you can follow these steps:

1. Convert the total volume from liters to milliliters (mL). Since 1 L = 1000 mL, the total volume is:
\[
1 \text{ L} = 1000 \text{ mL}
\]

2. Calculate the total time in minutes. Since the IV is to be run over 8 hours:
\[
8 \text{ hours} = 8 \times 60 = 480 \text{ minutes}
\]

3. Calculate the flow rate in mL per minute:
\[
\text{Flow rate (mL/min)} = \frac{1000 \text{ mL}}{480 \text{ min}} \approx 2.0833 \text{ mL/min}
\]

4. Now, use the drop factor to calculate the number of drops per minute. Since the drop factor is given as 10 gtts/mL:
\[
\text{Drops per minute} = \text{Flow rate (mL/min)} \times \text{drop factor (gtts/mL)}
\]
\[
\text{Drops per minute} = 2.0833 \text{ mL/min} \times 10 \text{ gtts/mL} \approx 20.8333 \text{ gtts/min}
\]

5. Round the result to the nearest whole number:
\[
\text{Drops per minute} \approx 21 \text{ gtts/min}
\]

Thus, the answer is **A. 21 gtts/min**.