In: Nursing
The physician's order reads vancomycin (Vancocin) 500 mg in 250 mL of 5% dextrose in water and administer over 2 hours. The drop factor is 10 drops/mL. A nurse sets the flow rate at how many drops per minute? (Round answer to the nearest whole number. Do not put a label after the nearest whole number -- 300 "drops per minute")
ANSWER.
* Calculation of drops per minute(gtt/min).
Formula
Drops per minute(gtt/min) = Volume(ml)/Time(min) * Drop factor(gtt/ml).
Here
Volume(ml) = 250 ml.
Time = 2 hr.
Convert hr to min for calculation
1 hr = 60 min.
So
Time(min) = 2 * 60
= 120 min.
Drop factor = 10 drops /ml.
As per above fromula
Drops per min(gtt/min) = 250/120 * 10
= 2.08 * 10
= 20.8
= 21.