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Drop Factor

This document discusses intravenous (IV) fluid administration and calculations for setting flow rates. It explains that IV solutions are ordered by physicians and administered by nurses at specific rates, such as a volume to run over a period of time. When a manual infusion is used rather than an electronic regulator, the nurse must calculate the drop rate per minute based on the ordered flow rate in mL/hr and the drop factor of the tubing set in drops per mL. The document provides examples of calculating flow rates in drops per minute for different IV administration scenarios using unit cancellation.

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Craig Burmeier
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191 views5 pages

Drop Factor

This document discusses intravenous (IV) fluid administration and calculations for setting flow rates. It explains that IV solutions are ordered by physicians and administered by nurses at specific rates, such as a volume to run over a period of time. When a manual infusion is used rather than an electronic regulator, the nurse must calculate the drop rate per minute based on the ordered flow rate in mL/hr and the drop factor of the tubing set in drops per mL. The document provides examples of calculating flow rates in drops per minute for different IV administration scenarios using unit cancellation.

Uploaded by

Craig Burmeier
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Intravenous Fluids and Medications Name

Date

IV solutions are ordered by the physician, but they are administered and
monitored by the nurse. IV solutions are usually ordered for a certain
volume to run for a stated period of time, such as

125mL/hr or 1000mL/8hr

This rate is known as the Flow Rate.

If an electronic infusion regulator is used to deliver the IV, the device will
probably be regulated in mL/hr. When an electronic infusion device is not
used, the nurse will manually regulate the IV rate. To do this, the ordered
IV rate must be calculated based on a certain number of drops per minute
(gtt/min).

To get the calculation correct, pay attention to what type of tubing set is
being used. In particular, pay attention to The Drop Factor:

The drop factor is the number of drops that equals 1 mL. "Drops per
mL" can be abbreviated as "gtt/mL."

The drop factor varies according to the manufacturer of the IV equipment.


Standard tubing sets have a drop factor of 10, 15 or 20 gtt/mL. Microdrip
tubing sets hava a drop factor of 60 gtt/mL.

When calculating flow rates, remember to keep your skills involving “unit
cancellation” handy.

Let’s take a look:


Use unit cancellation to calculate the following flow rates:

1) 1000mL of a solution is to be given to a patient over 8 hours. Convert


to drops per minute if the drop factor is 10gtt/mL.

2) A patient is to receive 3000 mL of IV fluid over 24 hours. How much


fluid should be infused per hour?

3) A patient is to receive 125 mL of IV fluid per hour. How much fluid


should be administered per minute?
4) A patient is to receive 2.08 mL of IV fluid per minute. The infusion
set being used has a drop factor of 15 gtt = 1 mL. How many drops a
minute should the IV be set to deliver?

5) A patient is to receive 3000 mL of a solution at a rate of 125 mL/hr.


With a drop factor of 10 gtt/mL, how many gtt/min should be
administered?

6) Two 500 mL units of whole blood are to be infused in 4 hours. With a


drop factor of 20 drops per milliliter, how many gtt/min should be
delivered?
7) Hyperalimentation solution is ordered for 1240 mL to infuse in 12
hours using an infusion set with tubing calibrated to 15 gtt/mL. How
many drops per minute should be delivered?

8) A patient is to receive 2000 mL of a solution over 10 hours. With a


drop factor of 15 gtt/mL, how many gtt/min should be administered?

9) A patient is to receive 125 mL of a solution over 60 minutes. With a


drop factor of 15 gtt/mL, how many gtt/min should be administered?

10) A patient is to receive 1200 mL of a solution over 10 hours. With a


drop factor of 10 gtt/mL, how many gtt/min should be administered?

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