Recalculate the flow rate with a drop factor of 10 gtt/mL?

Question

Order: 875mL of 5% DW in 6 hours. The flow rate was set at 29gtt/min. You assess the infusion flow 3 hours later, & the patient has received 500mL, with 375 mL remaining to be infused. Recalculate the flow rate with a drop factor of 10gtt/mL.

Answer 1

Formula: Drop factor/ml X vol/# of hrs X 60

=10 gtt/ 1ml X (375 ml/3 hrs) X 1 hr /60 min
=3750 gtts/ 180 minutes
= 20.8 gtts/min
= 21 gtts/min

Recalculated flow rate will be 21 gtts/min.