pediatric patient is prescribed 300 mL normal saline (NS) to be infused over 6 hours using a pediatric drip set. What is the correct flow rate?

Appeared in: AIIMS M.Sc. Nsg Entrance exam-2026

Explanation

The question asks for the flow rate for 300 mL of NS to be infused over 6 hours.
The formula for flow rate is Total Volume ÷ Total Time.
Calculation: 300 mL ÷ 6 hours = 50 mL/hr.
A pediatric drip set is a microdrip set with a drop factor of 60 gtt/mL.
Using the drip rate formula: (300 mL × 60 gtt/mL) ÷ 360 minutes = 50 gtt/min.
For microdrip sets, the rate in mL/hr is numerically equal to the rate in gtt/min, confirming 50 is the correct value.

Option A: A flow rate of 40 mL/hr would infuse the 300 mL over 7.5 hours (300/40), which is incorrect.
Option B: A flow rate of 70 mL/hr would infuse the 300 mL in approximately 4.3 hours (300/70), which is too fast.
Option D: A flow rate of 60 mL/hr would infuse the 300 mL in 5 hours (300/60), not the prescribed 6 hours.

Visual 1: Diagram - A side-by-side comparison of a microdrip and a macrodrip IV chamber. The microdrip chamber should clearly show the thin metal stylet that creates small drops, while the macrodrip chamber shows a larger opening for bigger drops. This helps visualize the physical difference corresponding to the drop factor.
Visual 2: Infographic - A flowchart illustrating the steps to calculate both mL/hr and gtt/min, helping to break down the process for students.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Use the key finding related to IV Flow Rate Calculation to guide bedside assessment, documentation, and the next nursing action.
Accurate IV flow rate calculation is a critical nursing skill to ensure patient safety and therapeutic effectiveness.
In pediatrics, precision is paramount. Even small errors in fluid administration can lead to fluid overload, causing serious complications like pulmonary edema or cardiac failure.
What if? - If the patient was an adult requiring rapid fluid resuscitation and a macrodrip set with a drop factor of 15 gtt/mL was used, the drip rate would be (300 mL x 15 gtt/mL) / 360 min = 12.5 gtt/min (rounded to 13 gtt/min). This highlights how the drip set type drastically changes the calculation.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify this as a dosage calculation question.
Identify all the given values in the problem: Total Volume (300 mL), Total Time (6 hours), and Drip Set type (pediatric).
Recall or look up the key information associated with the drip set: a 'pediatric' set is a 'microdrip' set, which has a standard drop factor of 60 gtt/mL.
Determine the required unit for the answer. 'Flow rate' typically means mL/hr.
Calculate the flow rate in mL/hr: Divide the total volume by the total hours (300 mL / 6 hr).
If the question asked for gtt/min, use the full formula: (Volume x Drop Factor) / Time in minutes. Notice that with a microdrip set, the mL/hr and gtt/min values are the same, which is a useful clinical shortcut.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: IV Flow Rate Calculation
Stem keywords: pediatric patient, 300 mL, normal saline, 6 hours, pediatric drip set
Lead-in keywords: What is the correct flow rate?
Clinical cues: The use of a 'pediatric drip set' is a key clinical cue, as it specifies a microdrip set with a drop factor of 60 gtt/mL.

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