IV flow rate calculations
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1. Calculating flow rates for volumetric pump in ml/hr: Amount of solition (ml) ÷
Time in hours = x ml/hr
2. Flow Rate in ml/hr : 3,000ml on infusion pump over 24 hours: 3000ml÷24hrs
= 125ml/hr
3. Flow Rate in ml/hr: 50ml on infusion pump over 30mins: First: 30mins÷60mins
(1hr) = 0.5
Second: 50ml÷0.5 = 100ml/hr
4. Flow Rate in ml/hr: 2000ml on infusion pump over 18 hours.: 2000ml÷18hrs
= 111ml/hr
5. Flow Rate in ml/hr: 60ml on infusion pump over 45mins: 45mins÷60mins (1hr)
= 0.75
60ml÷0.75 = 80ml/hr
6. Flow rate in ml/hr: 135ml on infusion pump over 50mins: 50mins÷60mins
(1hr) = 0.83
135ml÷0.83 = 163ml/hr
7. Flow Rate in ml/hr: 1600ml on infusion pump over 24 hours: 1600ml÷24hrs
= 67ml/hr
8. Calculating IV flow rates in gtt/min: Used when electric infusion device is not
used.
Determined by the type of IV administration tubing.
Drop size is regulated by size of tubing.
Larger the tubing, larger the drops.
9. IV Tubing: Has a drip chamber.
Determines IV flow rate by adjusting the clamp & observing the drip chamber to
count the drops per minute.
Size of drop depends on type of IV tubing used.
10. Drop factor: The calibration of IV tubing in gtt/ml
Indicated on the box in which the IV tubing is packaged.
Calibration is necessary to calculate flow rates.
11. Macro-drop tubing: Standard type of tubing for general IV administration.
Large drops, so large amounts are of fluid are administered.
Delivers 10,15, or 20 gtts (drops) equal to 1ml.
12. Micro-drip tubing: Delivers tiny drops.
Used when small amounts & more exact measurements are needed. (Pediatrics,
critical care, elderly).
Delivers 60 gtt (drops) to 1ml.
60mins in a hr, the number of micro drops per min is equal to the number of ml/hr.
13. Macro drops are large and deliver?: 10, 15, or 20 gtt/mL
14. Micro drops are small and deliver?: 60 gtt/ml
1/5
, IV flow rate calculations
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_f03vpt
15. Know the drop factor is the ______ step to accurately administer IV fluids.-
: First
16. The drop factor always appears on the package of the what?: IV tubing
17. Drop factor = ______?: Gtt/ml
18. To calculate the flow rate at which an I.V. is to infuse, regardless of the
formula used the nurse needs to know the following:: 1. The volume or number
of mL to infuse.
2. The drop factor (gtt/mL).
3. The time element (minutes or hours).
The information is then placed into a formula.
19. Formula A: most popular for calculating I. Flow rate when the rate can be
expressed as 60mins or less.: X gtt/min = amount of solution (ml) x drop factor ÷
time in minutes.
20. Drops per minute are always expressed in what?: Whole numbers never half
numbers.
21. Because drops are expressed in whole numbers, principles of rounding off
are applied.: for example, 19.5 gtt = 20 gtt
22. How to round IV rate drops: Carry division of the problem one decimal place
to round to a whole number of drops.
23. Answers must be _________ . The _______ is usually drops per minute,
unless otherwise specified.: Labeled/label
24. To reinforce the differences in gtt factor, the type of tubing is sometimes
included as, part of the label.: Example: 100 microgtt/min or 17 macrogtt/min.
25. IV Flow Rate using gtt/min
Order: D5W to infuse at 100 ml/hr. Drop factor: 10 gtt/mL. How many gt/min
should the I.V. be regulated at?: Solution Using Formula A
1. Set up the problem, placing the information given in the correct position.
X gtt/min = 100ml x 10 gtt/ml ÷ 60mins.
2. Reduce where possible. Labels are dropped when starting to perform mathemat-
ical steps.
X = 100x10÷60 = 100x1÷6 = 100÷6
3. Divide 100/6 to obtain gtt/min
Carry division one decimal place & round off to the nearest whole number.
X = 100÷6 = 16.6
X= 17 gtt/min
Answer: 17 gtt/min; 17 macrogtt/min.
26. IV Flow Rate using gtt/min
Order: I.V. medication in 50 mL NS in 20 minutes. Drop factor: microdrip (60
gtt/mL). How many gtt/min should the I.V. be regulated at?: X = 50ml x 60 gtt/ml
2/5
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_f03vpt
1. Calculating flow rates for volumetric pump in ml/hr: Amount of solition (ml) ÷
Time in hours = x ml/hr
2. Flow Rate in ml/hr : 3,000ml on infusion pump over 24 hours: 3000ml÷24hrs
= 125ml/hr
3. Flow Rate in ml/hr: 50ml on infusion pump over 30mins: First: 30mins÷60mins
(1hr) = 0.5
Second: 50ml÷0.5 = 100ml/hr
4. Flow Rate in ml/hr: 2000ml on infusion pump over 18 hours.: 2000ml÷18hrs
= 111ml/hr
5. Flow Rate in ml/hr: 60ml on infusion pump over 45mins: 45mins÷60mins (1hr)
= 0.75
60ml÷0.75 = 80ml/hr
6. Flow rate in ml/hr: 135ml on infusion pump over 50mins: 50mins÷60mins
(1hr) = 0.83
135ml÷0.83 = 163ml/hr
7. Flow Rate in ml/hr: 1600ml on infusion pump over 24 hours: 1600ml÷24hrs
= 67ml/hr
8. Calculating IV flow rates in gtt/min: Used when electric infusion device is not
used.
Determined by the type of IV administration tubing.
Drop size is regulated by size of tubing.
Larger the tubing, larger the drops.
9. IV Tubing: Has a drip chamber.
Determines IV flow rate by adjusting the clamp & observing the drip chamber to
count the drops per minute.
Size of drop depends on type of IV tubing used.
10. Drop factor: The calibration of IV tubing in gtt/ml
Indicated on the box in which the IV tubing is packaged.
Calibration is necessary to calculate flow rates.
11. Macro-drop tubing: Standard type of tubing for general IV administration.
Large drops, so large amounts are of fluid are administered.
Delivers 10,15, or 20 gtts (drops) equal to 1ml.
12. Micro-drip tubing: Delivers tiny drops.
Used when small amounts & more exact measurements are needed. (Pediatrics,
critical care, elderly).
Delivers 60 gtt (drops) to 1ml.
60mins in a hr, the number of micro drops per min is equal to the number of ml/hr.
13. Macro drops are large and deliver?: 10, 15, or 20 gtt/mL
14. Micro drops are small and deliver?: 60 gtt/ml
1/5
, IV flow rate calculations
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_f03vpt
15. Know the drop factor is the ______ step to accurately administer IV fluids.-
: First
16. The drop factor always appears on the package of the what?: IV tubing
17. Drop factor = ______?: Gtt/ml
18. To calculate the flow rate at which an I.V. is to infuse, regardless of the
formula used the nurse needs to know the following:: 1. The volume or number
of mL to infuse.
2. The drop factor (gtt/mL).
3. The time element (minutes or hours).
The information is then placed into a formula.
19. Formula A: most popular for calculating I. Flow rate when the rate can be
expressed as 60mins or less.: X gtt/min = amount of solution (ml) x drop factor ÷
time in minutes.
20. Drops per minute are always expressed in what?: Whole numbers never half
numbers.
21. Because drops are expressed in whole numbers, principles of rounding off
are applied.: for example, 19.5 gtt = 20 gtt
22. How to round IV rate drops: Carry division of the problem one decimal place
to round to a whole number of drops.
23. Answers must be _________ . The _______ is usually drops per minute,
unless otherwise specified.: Labeled/label
24. To reinforce the differences in gtt factor, the type of tubing is sometimes
included as, part of the label.: Example: 100 microgtt/min or 17 macrogtt/min.
25. IV Flow Rate using gtt/min
Order: D5W to infuse at 100 ml/hr. Drop factor: 10 gtt/mL. How many gt/min
should the I.V. be regulated at?: Solution Using Formula A
1. Set up the problem, placing the information given in the correct position.
X gtt/min = 100ml x 10 gtt/ml ÷ 60mins.
2. Reduce where possible. Labels are dropped when starting to perform mathemat-
ical steps.
X = 100x10÷60 = 100x1÷6 = 100÷6
3. Divide 100/6 to obtain gtt/min
Carry division one decimal place & round off to the nearest whole number.
X = 100÷6 = 16.6
X= 17 gtt/min
Answer: 17 gtt/min; 17 macrogtt/min.
26. IV Flow Rate using gtt/min
Order: I.V. medication in 50 mL NS in 20 minutes. Drop factor: microdrip (60
gtt/mL). How many gtt/min should the I.V. be regulated at?: X = 50ml x 60 gtt/ml
2/5
