Doctor prescribed pediatric child as follows: 50 ml fluid transfused over 30 minutes at drop rate of 15 gtts/mL per hours. In 30 minutes, what will be the flow rate?

1. A

   20

2. B

   50

3. C

   25

4. D

   30

Appeared in: AIIMS Delhi NO- 2019

Explanation

• The question requires the calculation of the intravenous (IV) flow rate, specifically in drops per minute (gtt/min), given the total volume, time, and drop factor.
• The standard formula for this calculation is: Flow Rate (gtt/min) = [Total Volume (mL) × Drop Factor (gtt/mL)] / Time (minutes).
• The values provided in the question are: Total Volume = 50 mL, Time = 30 minutes, and Drop Factor = 15 gtt/mL.
• Substituting these values into the formula gives: (50 × 15) / 30.
• The calculation simplifies to 750 / 30, which equals 25 gtt/min.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

• Option A: This is a result of an incorrect calculation and does not follow the standard formula for determining IV drip rates.
• Option B: This value represents the total volume of fluid (50 mL) that needs to be transfused, not the rate at which it is administered.
• Option D: This value represents the total duration of the infusion (30 minutes), not the rate of flow.

Related Visual

Clinical Relevance

• Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain IV Drip Rate Calculation as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
• Accurate calculation of IV drip rates is a critical and fundamental nursing skill to ensure patient safety and the therapeutic effectiveness of treatment.
• In the pediatric population, precision in fluid administration is paramount. Errors in calculation can lead to serious adverse events like fluid overload (if the rate is too fast) or inadequate treatment (if too slow), as children have a lower tolerance for fluid volume shifts.
• What if? If the doctor ordered the same 50 mL to be infused over 1 hour (60 minutes) with the same 15 gtt/mL set, the flow rate would be (50 × 15) / 60 = 12.5 gtt/min. A nurse would typically set this as 12 or 13 gtt/min, as you cannot administer half a drop.

How to Approach the Question

• First, identify that this is a drug calculation question asking for an IV flow rate.
• Notice the presence of a 'drop factor' (15 gtts/mL). This is a key clue that the required answer is in 'drops per minute' (gtt/min).
• Recall the standard formula for calculating drip rate: Flow Rate (gtt/min) = [Total Volume (mL) × Drop Factor (gtt/mL)] / Time (minutes).
• Carefully extract the numerical values from the problem: Volume = 50 mL, Time = 30 min, and Drop Factor = 15 gtt/mL.
• Substitute these values into the formula: (50 × 15) / 30.
• Perform the multiplication first (50 × 15 = 750), then the division (750 / 30 = 25).

Concept Tested & Keywords

• Concept Tested: IV Drip Rate Calculation
• Stem keywords: pediatric, 50 ml, 30 minutes, 15 gtts/mL, flow rate
• Lead-in keywords: what will be the flow rate
• Clinical cues: Age/sex group narrows the expected diagnosis, intervention, or normal reference range.
• Negative lead-in flag: false

Question ID

QDeRQ4wJAs7IymrO2D0CJh

Copy ID

Reference Book

E6 Pharmacology Nurses Shanbhag 3e p. 54-56