Question

A client receives a prescription for an IV infusion of 0.9% sodium chloride 1,000 ml at 750 ml/4 hours. The IV administration set delivers 60 gtts/ml. How many gtts/minute should the nurse regulate the infusion to?

a) 15
b) 20
c) 25
d) 30

Answer 1

The infusion rate should be regulated to approximately 78 gtts/minute for an IV drip of 0.9% sodium chloride to be administered at 750 ml over 4 hours with a set that delivers 60 gtts/ml.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student is asking how to calculate the infusion rate for an IV drip. To regulate an IV infusion of 0.9% sodium chloride 1,000 ml to be administered at 750 ml over 4 hours using a set that delivers 60 gtts/ml, you need to calculate the number of gtts/minute. The calculation is as follows:

• Total volume to be infused (V) = 750 ml
• Total time of infusion (T) = 4 hours or 240 minutes
• Drop factor of administration set (D) = 60 gtts/ml
• Flow rate (F) in gtts/minute = (V x D) / T = (750 ml x 60 gtts/ml) / 240 minutes = 18,750 gtts / 240 minutes = 78.125 gtts/minute

The nearest whole number to 78.125 is 78, so the nurse should regulate the infusion to approximately 78 gtts/minute.