Final answer:
To calculate the drip rate, you multiply the volume of the IV bag by the drop factor of the IV set and then divide by the infusion time in minutes. For a 100 mL IV bag with a drop factor of 20gtt/mL over 1 hour, the drip rate would be approximately 33.33 drops per minute.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate the drip rate for an infusion of metronidazole 500mg in 100ml to be infused over 1 hour with an infusion set calibrated to 20 drops per milliliter (20gtt/ml), we use the following formula:
Drip Rate = (Volume in mL x Drop Factor) / Time in minutes
Plugging the values into the formula:
Drip Rate = (100 mL x 20 gtt/mL) / 60 minutes
Drip Rate = 2000 gtt / 60 minutes
Drip Rate = 33.33 drops per minute (rounded to two decimal places).
This is the rate at which the IV should be set to ensure the patient receives the medication at the ordered rate.