1) Give a 50cc IVPB over 30 minutes using IV tubing
with a calibration of 10. How many drops per minute
should this IVPB be set for? The answer is 17 gtt/min.
See the example below.
select time to = minutes
length of time = 30 minutes
volume = 50 mL
calibration = 10
2) Using IV tubing alone (calibrated
at 60), prepare an IV to infuse 1 liter over 8 hours.
How many drops per minute should the IV be set for?
The answer is 125 gtt/min. See the example below.
select time to = hours
length of time = 8 hours
volume = 1000 mL
calibration = 60
Note, when using microdrip tubing (calibration
= 60), the drip rate will be the same as mL/hr. This
will save you the time of calculating the drip rate if asked
to give the rate in mL/hr.
3) You are a medic in the field treating a
soldier with heat exhaustion. Your medical officer
has instructed you to start an IV and infuse 1 liter of
N.S. over 1 hour. The IV tubing in your aid bag is
10 drop calibration. How many drops per minute will
you set your IV rate at? the answer is 167 gtt/min
(or 42 gtt/15 secs).
select time to = hours
length of time = 1 hours
volume = 1000 mL
calibration = 10
