A patient is to receive an IV at 50 mL/hr. If the drop factor is 15 gtt/mL, what will the drip rate (gtt/min) be?

To determine the drip rate in gtt/min when administering IV fluid, you can use the formula:

Drip Rate (gtt/min) = (Volume Flow Rate (mL/hr) × Drop Factor (gtt/mL)) / 60 minutes/hr.

In this case, the patient is receiving IV fluids at a rate of 50 mL/hr, and the drop factor is 15 gtt/mL.

Using the formula:

1. Plug in the values: (50 mL/hr × 15 gtt/mL) / 60 min/hr.

2. Calculate the numerator: 50 × 15 = 750 gtt/hr.

3. Then divide by 60 to convert to minutes: 750 / 60 = 12.5.

As you round to the nearest whole number, the drip rate will be 12 gtt/min. This means that the correct answer is closely aligned with the calculated result, reinforcing the understanding that rounding is an essential consideration in clinical practice. The drip rate ensures that the patient receives the appropriate volume of fluid over time, which is critical for effective IV fluid administration.