Question

A health care worker is asked to infuse 1000 milliliters of medication into a patient over a period of 12 hours, using a 15-drip set. what is the drip rate? use the equation drip rate = milliliters of fluid x drip set / minutes of infusion.

Answer 1

Drip rate = milliliters × drip set/minutes of infusion
12 hours = 12 × 60
= 720 minutes
The Drip rate = 1000 × 15/720 minutes
= 20.8333
≈ 20.8 drops per minute
Drip rate refers to the number of Drops the IV solution is dripping at, measured in the number of drops per minute. Flow rate on the other hand is the amount of IV solution flowing into the vein in ml's per minute or hour.