If an IV infusion is set at 70 mL/hr using tubing with a drop factor of 20 gtt/mL, what is the flow rate in gtt/min?

To determine the flow rate in drops per minute (gtt/min) for an IV infusion, you first need to understand how to calculate the total number of drops being administered based on the given infusion rate and drop factor.

In this scenario, the infusion rate is set at 70 mL per hour, and the tubing has a drop factor of 20 gtt/mL. To find the flow rate in gtt/min, you start by converting the infusion rate from mL/hour to mL/min:

1. Convert mL/hour to mL/min:

[

70 \text{ mL/hr} \div 60 \text{ min/hr} = \frac{70}{60} \approx 1.1667 \text{ mL/min}

]

2. Calculate drops per minute:

Next, you multiply the mL/min by the drop factor:

[

1.1667 \text{ mL/min} \times 20 \text{ gtt/mL} = 23.334 \text{ gtt/min}

]

Since flow rates are typically rounded to the nearest whole number when administering IV medications, 23.334 g