Answer:
28 gtt/min
Step-by-step explanation:
To solve this dosage calculation, multiply the total volume to be infused by the drip factor and then divide this number by the amount of time the medication is to be infused over.
The total volume is the amount of medication the patient has been prescribed, usually in the units milliliters (mL) or liters (L). In this case, the total volume is 1 L of 5% Dextrose in normal saline (D5NS).
The drip factor is a rough measurement of the rate at which the medication is delivered to the patient, usually given in the units (gtt/mL) with gtt representing an amount of drops. In this case, the drip factor is 10 gtt/mL.
The amount of time is, as it sounds, the prescribed time allotted to delivering the full quantity of medication ordered. This can vary based on the medication ordered, but is usually in units of minutes or hours. In this case, the amount of time is 6 hours, or 360 minutes.
First, step is multiply our total volume (1 L or 1000 mL) by the drip factor 10 gtt/mL.
1000 mL x 10 gtt/mL = 10,000 gtt mL / mL
Milliliters in both numerator and denominator will cancel each other, leaving 10,000 gtt remaining.
Now, divide this number by the amount of time it is to be infused for to obtain the desired units of drops per minute.
10,000 gtt / 360 min = 27.777 gtt / min
27.777 ≈ 28 gtt/min
Therefore, the patient is to receive 1 L D5NS at a rate of 28 gtt/min, or 28 drops per minute, infused over 6 hours.