How many drops per minute should the nurse set the IV to administer 1000 mL of 5% dextrose in 0.9% saline over 4 hours?

To determine the correct number of drops per minute for the intravenous (IV) administration of 1000 mL of 5% dextrose in 0.9% saline over a period of 4 hours, you can follow these steps:

1. Calculate the total volume to be infused: This is given as 1000 mL.

2. Determine the total time in minutes: Since the infusion is to be administered over 4 hours, convert this to minutes:

4 hours × 60 minutes/hour = 240 minutes.

3. Calculate the rate in mL per minute: Divide the total volume by the total time:

1000 mL ÷ 240 minutes = approximately 4.17 mL/min.

4. Convert mL per minute to drops per minute: The IV drop factor (also known as the drip factor) is essential here. For this calculation, you need to know the drop factor (e.g., 15 drops/mL, 20 drops/mL, etc.). However, since the exact drop factor isn't specified in the question, a commonly used drop factor for IV fluids is 20 drops/mL.

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