Question

The physician writes an order for an IV of 1L Lactated Ringer's to infuse at 150 mL/hr. The IV tubing set has a drop factor of 15 gtt/mL. What is the flow rate for the gravity IV? gtt/min (Enter the numerical value only)

Answer 1

FLOW RATE - HOW MUCH AMOUNT IS ADMINISTERD IN SPECIFIC AMOUNT OF TIME i.e 150ml/hr

DROP FACTOR - HOW MANY DROP OF FLUID FAILLING IN DRIP CHAMBER ARE EQUAL TO 1 ML OF FLUID i.e 15gtt/ml

ANS

total volume- 1l = 1000ml infuse at a rate of 150ml/hr which means whole 1l will inuse in aprox 6.6 hours

volume X flow rate = time

1000ml divide by 150ml/hr = 6.6 hours took to complete infusion

now the IV tubing set has factor of 15gtt/ml or 15drops/ml

so according to question

IV TUBING SET ( BASIC UNITARY METHOD)

1ml = 15gtt or 15 drops

150ml = 150*15 = 2250 drops

so IV TUBING SET INFUSE in 1 hours =2250 drops = 150ml

in 1hours= 60min  infuse 2250gtt

; so in 1 min it will infuse= 2250gtt divide by 60min = 37.5gtt/min

IV TUBING SET (FORMULA BASED SOLUTION)

flow rate = 150ml/hr

drop factor = 15gtt/ml

flow rate in IV tubing = flow rate( physician order) X drop factor X 1h / 60 min

therfore 150ml X 15gtt X 1 hr 2250gtt

----------------------- =    ------- = 37.5 gtt/ min

hr X ml X 60 min    60min

infusion rate wil be 37.5 gtt/ml  

note- units can be cancel if they are in the divide