A child is getting 5% Dextrose 1000 ml IV in 24 hours, the mini dropper delivers 60 drops/ml. The rate of flow will be?

Appeared in: NHM UP Staff Nurse - 2016

Explanation

calculated using the standard IV drip rate formula: Drip Rate = (Total Volume in mL × Drop Factor in gtt/mL) / Total Time in minutes.
First, the total infusion time must be converted from hours to minutes: 24 hours × 60 minutes/hour = 1440 minutes.
The values are then substituted into the formula: (1000 mL × 60 gtt/mL) / 1440 minutes.
This calculation results in 60000 / 1440 = 41.666... gtt/min.
Since drops are counted as whole numbers, the result is rounded to the nearest whole number, which is 42 drops per minute.

Option A: A rate of 30 drops/minute would only deliver 720 mL of fluid over 24 hours, which is 280 mL less than the prescribed 1000 mL, leading to significant under-infusion.
Option B: A rate of 32 drops/minute would deliver 768 mL over 24 hours. This is insufficient and does not meet the prescribed fluid requirement.
Option C: A rate of 38 drops/minute would deliver 912 mL over 24 hours. While closer to the target, it is still nearly 100 mL short of the prescribed volume.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain IV fluid drip rate calculation as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Accurate IV fluid calculation is a critical nursing skill, especially in the pediatric population where small errors can lead to significant fluid imbalances (over-hydration or dehydration).
Using the shortcut for microdrip sets (mL/hr = gtt/min) can serve as a quick mental check to ensure the calculated rate is reasonable, enhancing patient safety.
What if? If the question specified a macrodrip set with a drop factor of 15 gtt/mL instead, the calculation would change significantly: (1000 mL × 15 gtt/mL) / 1440 min = 10.4 gtt/min, which rounds to 10 gtt/min. This highlights the importance of always verifying the drop factor of the IV tubing.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify this as a calculation question requiring a specific formula.
Carefully extract all the numerical values provided in the stem: Total Volume (1000 mL), Total Time (24 hours), and Drop Factor (60 gtt/mL).
Recall the standard formula for IV drip rate: Drip Rate = (Volume × Drop Factor) / Time.
Ensure all units are consistent with the formula. Convert the infusion time from hours to minutes (24 hours × 60 = 1440 minutes).
Substitute the values into the formula: (1000 × 60) / 1440.
Perform the calculation and round the result to the nearest whole number, as partial drops cannot be administered.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: IV fluid drip rate calculation
Stem keywords: child, 5% Dextrose, 1000 ml, 24 hours, mini dropper, 60 drops/ml
Lead-in keywords: rate of flow
Clinical cues: Age/sex group narrows the expected diagnosis, intervention, or normal reference range.
Negative lead-in flag: false

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E6 Pharmacology Nurses Shanbhag 3e p. 54-56

Practise the full NHM UP Staff Nurse - 2016

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.