Intravenous (IV) Flow Rates 

 

 

IV administration of fluids by gravity

 

Formula:   Volume (ml)

                   Time (min)   X Drop Factor = Flow rate (gtts/min)

 

Example: After a burn injury Mr. Smith is to receive 500 ml of blood plasma over 4 hours. The tubing drop factor is 15 gtt/ml. How many drops per minute should be given?

 

   Before we plug in our information into our formula we will need to convert 4 hours into minutes first because the flow rate comes in gtts/min. So 4 hours X 60 minutes = 240 minutes (4hrs).

 

                  500 ml 

                  240 min  X 15 gtt/ml = 31 gtts/min

 

 

 

Infusion of IV fluids with an IV pump

 

Formula:     Volume (ml)

                     Time (hrs)    = ml/hr

 

Example: Infuse 1000 ml of lactated Ringer's solution (LR) over 12 hours. How many ml/hr should the IV pump be programmed for?

 

               1000 ml

                12 hrs   = 83 ml/hr

 

 

 

                                                       Practice

 

1.) A patient has an order for 2500 ml of TPN to be infused over 24 hours. How many milliliters per hour should the IV pump be programmed for?

 

2.) Mrs. Oliver, who has sepsis, has an order for Timentin 3.1 g in 100 ml of D5W IVPB over 1 hour. The drop factor is 60 gtt/ml. How many drops per minute should be given?

 

3.) A patient with iron-dificiency anemia has an order for iron dextran 100 mg in 200 ml of 0.9% NS over 6 hours. How many milliliters per hour shoould the IV pump be programmed for?

 

4.) Ms. Pain has oliguria and receives an order for 1000 ml of 0.9% NS over 3 hours. The tubing drop factor is 10 gtt/ml. How many drops per minute should be given?

 

5.) An NPO patient has an order for 1000 ml of D5W 0.45% NS with 30 mEq of potassium over 12 hours. How many milliliters per hour should the IV pump be programmed for?

 

 

1. 104 ml/hr

2. 100 gtt/min

3. 33 ml/hr

4. 56 gtt/min

5. 83 ml/hr