Final answer:
To calculate the flow rate in drops per minute for an IV medication, multiply the total volume by the drop factor and divide by the time in minutes, resulting in a flow rate of 150 drops per minute for the given scenario.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student is asking how to calculate the flow rate in drops per minute for an IV medication that needs to be administered in 50 mL of normal saline (NS) over a period of 20 minutes using a microdrop factor of 60 drops per mL. To find the flow rate, use the formula: Flow rate (gtt/min) = (Total volume in mL × Drop factor in gtt/mL) ÷ Time in minutes. Plugging in the values from the question, the calculation would be: (50 mL × 60 gtt/mL) ÷ 20 min = 3000 gtt ÷ 20 min = 150 drops per minute.
It's important to be accurate when setting the flow rate for an IV to ensure the patient receives the correct dosage of medication over the prescribed time. In a real-world setting, additional factors like viscosity of the fluid being administered could affect the exact setting of the flow rate, as seen in physics where viscosity changes can alter the flow rate.