IV FLUID

CALCULATIONS

BSN 3 RELATED
LEARNING
EXPERIENCE
 Calculations of Intravenous Fluids
 IV fluid therapy is used to administer fluids that contain water, dextrose,
vitamins, electrolytes, and drugs.
 Some drugs are given by IV push (IV Bolus). Many drugs administered IV
irritate the vein, so these drugs are diluted in 50-100mL of fluid. Others are
delivered in a large volume of fluid over a specific period.
 2 methods to administer IV fluid and drug:
a. Continuous IV infusion: replaces fluid loss, maintains fluid balance,
and serves as a vehicle for drug administration.
b. Intermittent IV infusion: used to give IV drugs.
 Nursing functiong and responsibilities:

• Identifying IV sets and its drop factor;

• calculating IV flow rates;
• mixing and diluting drugs in IV fluids;
• gathering equipment;
• knowing the drugs and the expected adverse reactions.
 Intravenous Sets

Drop factor (sometimes called drip factor). The total number of drops delivered per
milliliters of solution. This rate varies by brand and types of infusion sets and are
printed on the package of the infusion set. 
2 Sets of Drop Factors:
A. Macro Drip Set
B. Micro Drip Set
Keep vein open (KVO): a microdrip set (60ugtt/min) and a 250 mL IV bag may
be used; usually regulated to deliver 10mL/hour.
 How to identify the gtt factos for
Macro Drip Set Macro Drip Set?
• a set that delivers large drops
per milliliter
• use if the IV rate to infuse is at
100mL/hr or more.
• have a drop factor of 10, 12, 15, or 20
drops/mL.
 Micro Drip Set
• delivers small drops per
milliliter (60 gtt/ml); use for
infusion rate of less than (<)
100ml/hr or the client is a child.
• Keep vein open (KVO): a
microdrip set (60ugtt/min) and a
250 mL IV bag may be used;
usually regulated to deliver
10mL/hour.
INTRAVENOUS SETS
 SAMPLE
• A patient is receiving Computation:

250ml NSS over 4 hours • Flow Rate= Total

using aan IV set with a
drop factor of 10 Flow Rate= Total Infusion Volume x Drop Factor

drops/ml. How many Time in minutes

drops per minute should

be delivered? Flow Rate= 250 ml x 10 drops/ml
1 x 60 minutes

Data:
FR= 41.66 or 42 gtts/mn
Total Infusion Volume - 250ml
Drop Factors - 10 drops/ml
Time in minutes -1x60mn
 PRACTICE COMPUTATION
1. A patient with anuria has an order for 1000 ml of 0.9% NSS to be infused for
1 hour. The tubing drop factor is 10 gtts/ml. How many drops per minute
should be given?
 Ans: 166.6 or 167 gtts/mn
2. Doctor’s oder of 3L of IV solutions to infuse over 24hrs.
1 Liter of D5W and 2 Liters of D51/2NSS
a. 1 Liter is equal to how many mililiters?
Ans: 3000ml
b. Each liter should be infused for how many hours?
Ans: 8hours (24/3)
c. Using a drop factor of 15gtt/ml, how many gtts/mn the should patient
received?
A: 31.25 or 31 gtts/mn
 PRACTICE COMPUTATION

3. Hespan 500mL is ordered to be infuse over 3 hours. The drop factor is 15gtts/mL. How
many drops per minute should be given to infuse the total amount of Hespan over 3 hours?
 Ans: 41.66 or 42 gtts/min
4. Order: 100 ml of D5 / ½ NSS to infuse over 12h
Available: macro drip set with 10 gtt/ml and a micro drip set with 60 gtts/ml
a. Should a macro drip or micro drip be used?
 Ans: microdrip
b. Calculate the IV flow rate in drops per min according to the IV set that was selected.
 Ans: 8.3 or 8 ugtts/min
5. A patient with anasarca has albumin 25% 100mL ordered over 30minutes. The tubing
drop factor is 20gtts/mL. How many drops per minute should be given?
 Ans: 66.66 or 67 gtts/min
 PRACTICE COMPUTATION

6. The doctor orders 1000ml of D5LR to run at 125ml/hr. How many hours
should the IVF infused?
 Ans: 8 hours
7. An IVF of 1000ml (1L) is infusing at 20gtts/mn. The drop factor is
1gtts/mn. How long will it take to complete?
 Ans: 10 hours – 1000/100 (20 x 5)
8. Calculate the infusion rate of IVF with a total of 180 ml left in the bag
running at 25ml/hr.
 Ans: 7.2 or 7 hours
 Answer Key

1.41.66 or 42 gtts/min
2. a. microdrip
b. 8.3 or 8 ugtts/min
3.66.66 or 67 gtts/min

4.8 hours
5.10 hours – 1000/100 (20 x 5)
6.7.2 or 7 hours