Your senior line Corpsman ordered 150 mL / hr of NS . You have tubing with a drip factor of 15 gtt / mL . What is the rate in drips per minute ( gtt / min ) ?

Your senior line Corpsman ordered 150 mL / hr of NS . You have tubing with a drip factor of 15 gtt / mL . What is the rate in drips per minute ( gtt / min ) ?

• A. 38 gtt/min
• B. 28 gtt/min
• C. 46 gtt/min
• D. 54 gtt/min

Answer: (A)

When calculating IV flow in drops per minute, convert the hourly volume to drops per hour using the drip factor, then convert to drops per minute. Multiply the volume per hour by the drip factor: 150 mL/hr × 15 gtt/mL = 2250 gtt/hr. Then divide by 60 minutes per hour: 2250 ÷ 60 = 37.5 gtt/min. In practice, drops are counted as whole units, so round to 38 gtt/min.

When calculating IV flow in drops per minute, convert the hourly volume to drops per hour using the drip factor, then convert to drops per minute. Multiply the volume per hour by the drip factor: 150 mL/hr × 15 gtt/mL = 2250 gtt/hr. Then divide by 60 minutes per hour: 2250 ÷ 60 = 37.5 gtt/min. In practice, drops are counted as whole units, so round to 38 gtt/min.