Order: D5 1/4 NS 240 ml IV at 10 ml/h to infuse over 24 hours. The initial flow rate was correctly set at 10 mcgtt/min.After eight hours,220 ml of IV fluid remains to be infused.The infusion is behind schedule.Compute the new flow rate in gtt/min so that the infusion will finish on time.Note that flow rates may not be adjusted by more than 25% of the original rate.To what rate would you reset the drip rate,or would you contact the prescriber instead?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The original flow rate was 10 mcgtt/min, and the infusion is behind schedule. The remaining volume is 220 ml, and it needs to be infused in 16 hours. The new flow rate would be 220 ml / 960 min = 13.75 gtt/min, which rounds to 14 gtt/min. However, this exceeds the 25% adjustment limit (12.5 gtt/min), so the prescriber should be contacted.

Order: D5 1/4 NS 240 Ml IV at 10 Ml/h