What is the drop rate in gtt/min for administering 1000 mL of 5% dextrose in water over 8 hours with a drop factor of 15 gtt/mL?

To determine the drop rate in gtt/min for administering 1000 mL of 5% dextrose in water over 8 hours, you must first convert the total volume and duration into a rate applicable to the drop factor provided.

1. Start by calculating the total volume to be infused, which is 1000 mL.

2. Convert the infusion time from hours to minutes. Since there are 60 minutes in an hour, 8 hours is equivalent to 480 minutes (8 hours × 60 minutes/hour = 480 minutes).

3. Next, calculate the flow rate in mL/min by dividing the total volume by the total time in minutes: [ \text{Flow rate in mL/min} = \frac{\text{Total volume (mL)}}{\text{Total time (min)}} = \frac{1000 , mL}{480 , min} \approx 2.08 , mL/min. ]

4. Now, apply the drop factor to convert the flow rate from mL/min to gtt/min. The drop factor is given as 15 gtt/mL: [ \text{Drop rate in gtt/min}