MATH RN

Standard Conversion Factors

• 1 oz = 30 mL

• 1 tsp = 5 mL

• 1 tbsp = 15 mL

• 1 kg = 2.2 lb

• 1 cup = 240 mL

• 1 quart = 1,000 mL

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How to Calculate IV Flow Rate?

To calculate IV flow rates, the nurse must know the total volume of fluid to be infused
and the specific time for the infusion.

Intravenously administered fluids are prescribed most frequently based on millilitres per
hour to be administered. The volume per hour prescribed is administered by setting the
flow rate, which is counted in drops per minute.

There are three commonly used ways on how to indicate flow rates:

Milliliters per hour (mL/h). Calculated by dividing the total infusion volume by the total
infusion time in hours

Number of drops per one (1) minute (gtts/min). Calculated by multiplying the total
infusion volume to the drop factor and then dividing by the total infusion time in
minutes.

Infusion time. Total volume to infuse divided by millilitres per hour being infused.

Drop factor (sometimes called drip factor). The total number of drops delivered per
millilitres of solution. This rate varies by brand and types of infusion sets and are printed
on the package of the infusion set.

Generally, macrodrops have a drop factor of 10, 12, 15, or 20 drops/mL.

Microdrip sets, on the other hand, have a drop factor of 60 drops/mL.

FORMULA FOR CALCULATING MILLILITERS PER HOUR (mL/hour)

mL/h = total infusion volume (ml) / total infusion time (hr)

total infusion time(h)

total infusion volume(mL)

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EXAMPLE:

Your patient needs 2,000 mL of saline IV over 4 hours for a patient with deficient fluid
volume. How many milliliters per hour will you set on a controller?

Total infusion volume (mL) = 2,000 mL

Total infusion time = 4 hours

Computation:

2,000 ml / 4 hrs = 500mL/hour

Answer:

500 mL/hour

FORMULA FOR CALCULATING DROPS PER MINUTE (gtts/min)

Total infusion volume (ml) / total time of infusion in minutes

Drop factor / 1 hr

EXAMPLE:

A patient is receiving 250 mL normal saline IV over 4 hours, using tubing with a drip
factor of 10 drops/mL. How many drops per minute should be delivered?

Total infusion volume = 250 mL

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Drop factor = 10 gtts/mL

Total infusion time = 4 hours or 240 minutes

Calculate:

250 ml / 240 minutes X 10 gtts/ ml / 1 hr

=10.42gtts/min

Answer:

10 gtts/min (rounded off)

Fun fact: gtts is an abbreviation of the latin word “guttae” meaning drops.

FORMULA FOR INFUSION TIME (H)

milliliters per hour being infused(mL/hour) / total volume to infuse(mL)

Example:

A patient is ordered to received 1,000 mL of NSS to be administered at 125 mL/hour.

How many hours will pass before you change the IV bag?

Total volume to infuse = 1,000 mL

mL infused per hour = 125 mL/hour

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Calculate:

1000 ml/ 125 ml/hr

=8hours

Answer:

8 hours

Formulas

• °C = °F – 32 / 1.8

• °F = 1.8 (°C) + 32

IV Formulas

Volume (mL) / Time (min) x drop factor = IV flow rate (gtt/min)

Volume (mL) / Time (min) x 60 min/ 1 hr

Dosage Calculations: Ratio and Proportion

• Step 1: What is the unit of measurement to calculate?

• Step 2: What is the dose needed?

• Step 3: What is the dose available?

• Step 4: Should the nurse convert the units of measurement?

• Step 5: What is the quantity of the dose available?

• Step 6: Set up an equation and solve for X

Have / Quantity = Desired / X

• Step 7: Round if necessary

• Step 8: Reassess to determine whether the amount to give makes sense.

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Dose Calculations: Desired Over Have (Stock)

• Step 1: What is the unit of measurement?

• Step 2: What is the dose needed?

• Step 3: What is the dose available?

• Step 4: Should the nurse convert the units of measurement?

• Step 5: What is the quantity of the dose available?

• Step 6: Set up an equation and solve for X

Desired (Order) X Quantity (Vol.) / Have = X

• Step 7: Round if necessary

• Step 8: Reassess to determine whether the amount to give makes sense

Examples:

Dosage Calculation

• Ratio and Proportion.

• A nurse is preparing to administer 500 mg levofloxacin PO.

Available are 250 mg tablets. How many tablets should the nurse administer?

• 500 mg: X : : 250mg: 1 tablet

• Multiply means times extremes (means are inside numbers; extremes are outside
numbers)

• 500 X 1= 500 (extremes) X times 250 = 250X (means)

• 500:250X

• Divide both sides by 250 to clear the X then you should get 2 tablets as your answer.

Practice Problem #

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• 3 oz = X mL

Practice Problem #1 Answer

• 3 oz = 90 mL

• 1oz = 30 mL

• 3 X 30mL = 90 mL

Practice Problem #2

• 3 tsp = X mL

Practice Problem #2 Answer

• 3 tsp = 15 mL

• 1 tsp = 5 mL

• 3 X 5 mL = 15 mL

Practice Problem #3

• 60 mL = X oz

Practice Problem #3 Answer

• 60 mL = 2 oz

• 30 mL = 1 oz.

• 60 mL/30 mL = 2 oz.

Practice Problem #4

• A nurse is preparing to administer 2.5 mg of a medication. Available are

0.625 mg tablets. How many tablets should the nurse administer?

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Practice Problem #4 Answer

• A nurse is preparing to administer 2.5 mg of a medication. Available are

0.625 mg tablets. How many tablets should the nurse administer?

• X = 4 tablets

• Desired Dose / Have Dose

• 2.5 mg / 0.625 mg = 4 tablets

• Ration and Proportion

• 2.5 mg: X :: 0.625 mg :1 tablet

• 2.5 mg X 1= 2.5 X times 0.625= 0.625X

• 2.5 = 0.625X

• X = 4 tablets

Practice Problem #5

• A nurse is preparing to administer a medication 0.75 mg IM injection.

Available is 0.5 mg/mL solution. How many mL should the nurse administer?

Practice Problem #5 Answer

• A nurse is preparing to administer a medication 0.75 mg IM injection.

Available is 0.5 mg/mL solution. How many mL should the nurse administer?

• X = 1.5 mL

• Desired dose/Have Dose

• 0.75 mg/0.5 mg = 1.5 mL

• Ratio and Proportion

• 0.75 mg : X :: 0.5mg : 1 mL

• 0.75 X 1 = 0.75 X times 0.5 = 0.5X

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• 0.75 = 0.5X

• X = 1.5 ML

Practice Problem #6

• A nurse is preparing to administer a medication at 1,500 mL over 12 hr.

The drop factor is 15 gtt/mL. How many gtt/min should the nurse set the

infusion pump? (Round the answer to the nearest whole number.)

Practice Problem #6 Answer

• A nurse is preparing to administer a medication at 1,500 mL over 12 hr.

The drop factor is 15 gtt/mL. How many gtt/min should the nurse set the

infusion pump? (Round the answer to the nearest whole number.)

X= 1,500 mL / 720 min x 15 gtt / 1 ml

X= 22,500 gtt / 720 min

X = 31.25. Round to 31 gtt/min.

Practice Problem #7

• A nurse is preparing to administer a medication at 100 mL over 30 min.

The drop factor is 15 gtt/mL. How many gtt/min should the nurse set the infusion
pump?

Practice Problem #7 Answer

• A nurse is preparing to administer a medication at 100 mL over 30 min.

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The drop factor is 15 gtt/mL. How many gtt/min should the nurse set the infusion
pump?

X = 100 mL / 30 min x 15 gtt / 1 ml

X= 1,500 gtt / 30 min

X= 50 gtt/min

Practice Problem #8

37.5° C = X° F

Practice Problem #8 Answer

37.5° C = 99.5° F

X = (1.8 x 37.5) + 32

X = 67.5 + 32

X = 99.5

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