To calculate the drip rate, however, the drop factor is needed. For example, if you have 1,000 mL Normal Saline to infuse over 8 hours, take 1,000 mL divided by 8 hours, to equal 125 mL/hr. If you simply need to figure out the infusion rate, or the mL per hour to infuse, take the total volume in mL, divided by the total time in hours that the medication is ordered to be infused over, to equal the rate in mL per hour. Microdrip tubing delivers 60 gtt/mL and is used for small or very precise amounts of fluid, as with neonates or pediatric patients. Macrodrip tubing generally delivers 10 to 20 gtt/mL and is used to infuse large volumes or to infuse fluids quickly. Macrodrip and microdrip refers to the diameter of the needle where the drop enters the drip chamber. The drop factor is the number of drops in one mL of solution and is printed on the IV tubing package. When calculating the drip rate, first identify which IV tubing you will be using, microdrip or macrodrip, so you can use the proper drop factor in your calculations. Regardless of the method, it is important to know how to calculate the correct IV drip rate. IV fluids may be infused by gravity using a manual roller clamp or dial-a-flow, or infused using an infusion pump. When you have an order for an IV infusion, it is the nurse’s responsibility to make sure the fluid will infuse at the prescribed rate. Welcome to this video on calculating IV drip rates.
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