Chapter 6
Calculation of
Basic IV Drip Rates
Copyright © 2016 Wolters Kluwer • All Rights Reserved
Types of IV Fluids
• D5W = D5%W
• D5S = D5% 0.9NS
• D5½NS = D5% 0.45NS
• NS = 0.9% NS
• ½NS = 0.45% NS
Copyright © 2016 Wolters Kluwer • All Rights Reserved
IV Drip Factors
• Microdrip = 60 gtt/mL
• Macrodrip—need to check package
10 gtt/mL
15 gtt/mL
20 gtt/mL
• To calculate IV drip rates, this information must be
known.
Copyright © 2016 Wolters Kluwer • All Rights Reserved
Electric Infusion Pumps
• Volume for infusion
• Rate for infusion
• Turn pump on
Copyright © 2016 Wolters Kluwer • All Rights Reserved
IV Piggybacks on
Electronic Infusion Pumps
• Secondary volume
• Secondary rate
• Turn pump on
Copyright © 2016 Wolters Kluwer • All Rights Reserved
Calculating Basic IV Drip Rates
•
Number of milliliters to infuse×Drop factor
Number of minutes to infuse
= Drops per minute or gtt/minute
• When the order reads “hour,” convert to minutes by multiplying
by 60 (60 minutes = 1 hour).
Copyright © 2016 Wolters Kluwer • All Rights Reserved
Calculating IV Drips for Infusion Pump
•
Total number of milliliters ordered
Number of hours to run
= mL/hour
Copyright © 2016 Wolters Kluwer • All Rights Reserved
Question
Order: 1000 mL D5W at 120 mL/hour
Available macrodrip 15 gtt/mL
What is the drip factor in drops per minute?
A. 30 gtt/minute
B. 31 gtt/minute
C. 32 gtt/minute
D. 33 gtt/minute
Copyright © 2016 Wolters Kluwer • All Rights Reserved
Answer
A. 30 gtt/minute
120 mL×15 gtt/mL
60 minutes
= 30 gtt/minute
Copyright © 2016 Wolters Kluwer • All Rights Reserved
Determining Hours an IV Will Run
•
Number of milliliters ordered
Number of milliliters per hour
= Number of hours to run
Copyright © 2016 Wolters Kluwer • All Rights Reserved
Question
How many hours will 500 mL of D5½NS run at 75
mL/hour? Round to the nearest whole number.
A. 4 hours
B. 5 hours
C. 6 hours
D. 7 hours
Copyright © 2016 Wolters Kluwer • All Rights Reserved
Answer
D. 7 hours
Number of milliliters ordered
Number of milliliters per hour
500 mL
75 mL/hour
= Number of hours to run
= 6.7 or 7 hours
Copyright © 2016 Wolters Kluwer • All Rights Reserved
Choosing the Infusion Set
• Microdrip
– IV administered over a long period
– Small amount of fluid to be infused
– Macrodrops per minute are too few.
• Macrodrip
– Order specifies a large amount of fluid over a short time.
– Microdrips per minute are too many, and counting the drip
rate becomes too difficult.
Copyright © 2016 Wolters Kluwer • All Rights Reserved
Adding Medications to IVs
• Check diluent and volume.
• Check dose and expiration date of reconstituted solution.
• Note whether the IV piggyback (IVPB) should be
refrigerated before use and remain at room temperature.
• Calculate the drip rate, and record this information on
IVPB label.
Copyright © 2016 Wolters Kluwer • All Rights Reserved
Reconstitution Device
Copyright © 2016 Wolters Kluwer • All Rights Reserved
Enteral Nutrition
• Used when a patient/client cannot eat or cannot eat
enough
• Administered with a pump
– Intermittent
– Cyclic
– Continuous
Copyright © 2016 Wolters Kluwer • All Rights Reserved