Calculation of Basic IV Drip Rates

Med-Math Chapter 6

What IV fluid is D?

Dextrose

What IV fluid is W?

Water

What IV fluid is NS?

Normal saline (isotonic)

What IV fluid is D5W?

5% dextrose in water (sometimes termed D5)

What IV fluid is 0.9% NS?

0.9% saline in water (normal saline)

What IV fluid is 0.45% NS?

0.45% saline in water (1/2 normal saline)

What IV fluid is 0.33% NS?

0.33% saline in water (1/3 normal saline)

What IV fluid is LR?

Lactated Ringer’s

NDC

National Drug Code - number used by pharmacist to identify the drug and method of packaging

What info is on an IV bag?

• NDC number

• Fluid name

• Route of administration

• Drug quantity (amount of fluid in the IV bag)

• Amount of substance in the fluid

• pH and osmolarity

• Expiration date

• Lot number

• Bar code

• Manufacturer

• Information, precautions, and warnings

• Additives

Macrodrip

Infusion set without small needle in chamber

Drops / mL differs by manufacturer

Microdrip

Infusion set with small needle in chamber

Delivers 60 gtt/mL

Infusion set

Plastic tubing attached at one end to the IV bag and at the other end to a needle or catheter inserted into a blood vessel

Dial-a-Flow

Extension tubing that attaches to primary IV tubing, dial in rate in mL/hr

Not typically used with infusion pump

What patient info should be on IV label?

• Patient name

• Room (bed number if applicable)

• Date and time

• Order

Drop factor

How many drops per mL is delivered by the IV tubing

Drip rate

How many drops per minute are delivered

(Number of mL to infuse x DF) / Number of minutes to infuse = drops/min

When should you use microdrip tubing if a pump is not available?

• The IV is to be administered over a long period

• A small amount of fluid is to be infused

• The macrodrops per minute are too few

  • Slow rate may cause backup and clotting of blood, which will cause IV to stop infusing

When should you use macrodrip tubing if a pump is not available?

• The order specifies a large amount of fluid over a short time

• The microdrips per minute are too many, counting drip rate becomes too difficult