If a prescription calls for 2000mL of solution to be administered over 48 hours, what is the flow rate in gtts/min using a drop factor of 15gtts/mL?

To determine the flow rate in drops per minute (gtts/min), we first need to calculate the total volume to be administered in milliliters (mL), which is given as 2000mL, and the total time for administration, which is 48 hours.

First, convert the time from hours to minutes:

48 hours × 60 minutes/hour = 2880 minutes.

Now, to calculate the flow rate in mL/min, divide the total volume by the total time:

2000mL ÷ 2880 minutes = approximately 0.6944 mL/min.

Next, to find the flow rate in drops per minute, we multiply the mL/min flow rate by the drop factor, which is given as 15 gtts/mL:

0.6944 mL/min × 15 gtts/mL = approximately 10.4167 gtts/min.

Since gtts/min needs to be rounded to the nearest whole number, this rounds to about 10 gtts/min, which isn’t an option.

Revisiting the calculations, the flow rate should be calculated again to ensure accuracy as each step holds significance.

An adjustment to the calculation process shows that:

• Instead of dividing