NCLEX-PN® ExaminationPharmacological TherapiesHard
A client is prescribed potassium chloride (KCl) 40 mEq mixed in 500 mL of 0.9% Normal Saline to infuse over 4 hours. The drop factor of the manual IV tubing is 15 gtt/mL. The LPN should set the infusion rate to deliver how many gtt/min? (Round to the nearest whole number. Do not use trailing zeros.)
- A31 gtt/min
- B42 gtt/min
- C21 gtt/min
- D50 gtt/min
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. 31 gtt/min
To calculate gtt/min, use the formula: (Volume in mL / Time in minutes) * Drop Factor. First, convert hours to minutes: 4 hours * 60 min/hr = 240 minutes. Then: (500 mL / 240 min) * 15 gtt/mL = 2.0833 * 15 = 31.25 gtt/min. Rounded to the nearest whole number, this is 31 gtt/min.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. Incorrect calculation, likely a misstep in drop factor or time conversion.
- C. Incorrect calculation, possibly due to error in time conversion or formula application.
- D. Incorrect calculation, likely a significant error in one of the calculation steps.
Manual IV Drip Rate Calculation
Calculation of drops per minute (gtt/min) for a manual intravenous infusion using total volume, infusion time, and the tubing's drop factor.
- Formula: (mL/min) * gtt/mL.
- Convert hours to minutes.
- Round to nearest whole number.
Memory trick: Volume, Time, Drop Factor: The Trio for Drip Rate Action!