A physician prescribes 1000 mL of 5% dextrose in water to be infused over 24 hours. What is the flow rate in drops per minute if the drop factor is 60 gtt/mL?

To determine the flow rate in drops per minute for an infusion of 1000 mL of 5% dextrose in water over 24 hours with a drop factor of 60 gtt/mL, we first need to calculate the total volume to be infused, and then derive the flow rate.

The total volume to be infused is 1000 mL, and this needs to be administered over a period of 24 hours. To find the flow rate in mL per hour, divide the total volume by the time in hours:

1000 mL / 24 hours = 41.67 mL/hour.

Next, to convert this flow rate to drops per minute, we first convert the flow rate from mL per hour to mL per minute:

41.67 mL/hour ÷ 60 minutes/hour = 0.6945 mL/minute.

Now, knowing the drop factor is 60 gtt/mL, we convert mL per minute to drops per minute:

0.6945 mL/minute × 60 gtt/mL = 41.67 drops/minute.

Rounding this value gives us approximately 42 drops/minute. This calculation directly leads to the correct solution.