The order is for D5RL 200 mL to be infused over 24 hours. The drop factor is 60 gtt/mL. What is the appropriate flow rate? (Nearest whole number)

The order is for D5RL 200 mL to be infused over 24 hours. The drop factor is 60 gtt/mL. What is the appropriate flow rate? (Nearest whole number)

• A. 8 gtt/min
• B. 6 gtt/min
• C. 9 gtt/min
• D. 10 gtt/min

Answer: (A)

Concept: convert the infusion from mL over time to drops per minute using the drop factor. The drop factor tells how many drops make up 1 mL, so you multiply the volume by the drop factor to get total drops, then divide by the total time in minutes. Here, 200 mL over 24 hours with 60 gtt/mL means 200 × 60 = 12,000 drops in 24 hours. 24 hours is 1,440 minutes, so the rate is 12,000 / 1,440 ≈ 8.33 gtt/min. Rounding to the nearest whole drop gives 8 gtt/min.

Concept: convert the infusion from mL over time to drops per minute using the drop factor. The drop factor tells how many drops make up 1 mL, so you multiply the volume by the drop factor to get total drops, then divide by the total time in minutes.

Here, 200 mL over 24 hours with 60 gtt/mL means 200 × 60 = 12,000 drops in 24 hours. 24 hours is 1,440 minutes, so the rate is 12,000 / 1,440 ≈ 8.33 gtt/min. Rounding to the nearest whole drop gives 8 gtt/min.