Welcome to your free NCLEX reviewer and practice questions quiz for IV flow rate calculations and formula. The goal of this quiz is to help student nurses review and test their competence on intravenous flow rate calculation.
IV Flow Rate Calculation Nursing Test Bank
The nursing test bank for IV flow rate calculations below are separated into two sets of quizzes. Included topics are IV flow rate calculation, calculating for drops per minute, calculating for milliliters per hour, and total infusion time. If you need a quick review, please read the IV flow rate reviewer below.
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2.IV Flow Rate Calculation Practice Questions (Part 2:30 Items)
IV Flow Rate Calculation Practice Questions (Part 2:30 Items)
Here’s another set of practice problems for IV flow rate calculation. Use the nursing test bank below to test your competence on IV dosage calculations!
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Question 1 of 30
1. Question
A patient is to receive Heparin 1500 units/hr by IV infusion. The IV contains 25,000 units of Heparin in 250 ml of D5W. At what rate in ml/hr should you set the IV pump? in the blank and round to the nearest whole number for your final answer.
Answer: ml/hr
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Question 2 of 30
2. Question
A 56-year-old female patient is diagnosed with having a blood clot in her left leg. Her primary healthcare provider orders the administration of IV heparin 11mL/hour. Until an infusion pump is available, how many drops per minute will you run the heparin on a micro drip tubing with a drop factor of 60 gtts/mL? Fill in the blank and round to the nearest whole number for your final answer.
Answer: gtts/min
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Question 3 of 30
3. Question
Give regular insulin by continuous I.V. infusion at 20 units/hr. The solution is 250 ml NS with 100 units of regular insulin. What rate on the infusion pump in ml/hr will deliver the correct dose? Fill in the blank and round to the nearest whole number for your final answer.
Answer: ml/hr
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Question 4 of 30
4. Question
Administer theophylline (Theochron) drip at 40 mg/hr. The solution is 250 ml D5W + Theophylline 500 mg. What rate on the infusion pump in ml/hr will deliver the correct dose? Fill in the blank and round to the nearest whole number for your final answer.
Answer: ml/hr
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Question 5 of 30
5. Question
Give nitroglycerin 15 mcg/min. nitroglycerin is mixed 50 mg in 500 ml D5W. What rate on the infusion pump in ml/hr will deliver the correct dose? Fill in the blank and round to the nearest whole number for your final answer.
Answer: mL/hour
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Question 6 of 30
6. Question
Give propofol (Diprivan) 10 mcg/kg/minute. The infusion is mixed propofol 250 mg in 250 ml D5W. The patient weighs 168 pounds. What rate on the infusion pump in ml/hr will deliver the correct dose? Fill in the blanks and record your answer using a whole number.
Answer: mL/hr
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Question 7 of 30
7. Question
You are caring for a 56-year-old male patient admitted to the emergency department. Upon interview, you note that the client is complaining of headaches and dizziness. Your assessment reveals a pulse rate of 101 bpm, a temperature of 35.5ºC, a respiratory rate of 23 bpm, and a blood pressure of 200/130 mmHg. Further assessment reveals the patient is undergoing a hypertensive crisis and ordered to receive nitroprusside 5 mcg/kg/minute via continuous infusion. You logged the patient’s weight at 205 lbs. Nitroprusside is available in a solution of 200 mg in 250 mL D5W. Using milliliters per hour, you will set the infusion pump at what rate to deliver the correct dose? Fill in the blank and round to the nearest whole number for your final answer.
Answer: milliliters per hour
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Question 8 of 30
8. Question
A nitroglycerin (Tridil) drip is infusing at 15 ml/hr on an infusion pump. The drug is mixed 50 mg in 500 ml D5W. How many mcg/minute is the patient receiving? Fill in the blank and round to the nearest whole number for your final answer.
Answer: mcg/min
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Question 9 of 30
9. Question
A lidocaine drip is infusing at 30 ml/hr on an infusion device. The drug is mixed 2 g in 500 ml D5W. How many mg/minute is the patient receiving? Fill in the blank and round to the nearest whole number for your final answer.
Answer: mg/min
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Question 10 of 30
10. Question
Aminophylline (Norphyl) drip is infusing at 30 ml/hr. The drug is mixed 250 mg in 500 ml D5W. How many mg/hr is the patient receiving? Fill in the blank and round to the nearest whole number for your final answer.
Answer: mg/hr
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Question 11 of 30
11. Question
The IV with Nitroglycerin is infusing at 6 ml/hr. The concentration of the IV is 50 mg in 250 mL of D5W. How many mg/hr is the patient receiving? Fill in the blanks. Record your answer using one decimal place.
Answer: mg/hr
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Question 12 of 30
12. Question
A patient with an infection is to receive an IVPB of ampicillin (Ampi) 500 mg in 50 mL over 30 minutes. At what rate in mL/hr would you set the pump? Fill in the blank and round to the nearest whole number for your final answer.
Answer: mL/hr
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Question 13 of 30
13. Question
An IVPB of vancomycin (Vancocin) 1 gram in 250 mL is to infuse over 90 minutes. At what rate in mL/hr should the pump be set? Fill in the blank and round to the nearest whole number for your final answer.
Answer: mL/hr
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Question 14 of 30
14. Question
The physician ordered an IV of Dobutamine at 5 mcg/Kg/min. The patient weighs 198 lbs. The IV solution is 500 mg Dobutamine in 250 ml D5W. How many mL/hr should the pump be set? Fill in the blank and round to the nearest whole number for your final answer.
Answer: mL/hr
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Question 15 of 30
15. Question
A patient has an aminophylline IV drip ordered for acute asthma, to run at 20 mL/hour. No IV infusion controller is available right now. How many drops per minute will be required if microdrip tubing is used? Fill in the blank and round to the nearest whole number for your final answer.
Answer: gtts/min
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Question 16 of 30
16. Question
A patient has an IV piggyback of ceftriaxone (Rocephin) 500 mg in 50 mL D5W to run over 20 minutes. The tubing has a drip factor of 10 gtt/mL. How many drops per minute should be administered? Fill in the blank and round to the nearest whole number for your final answer.
Answer: gtts/min
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Question 17 of 30
17. Question
A patient admitted due to urinary tract infection has an IV piggyback of ceftriaxone (Rocephin) 500 mg in 50 mL D5W to run over 20 minutes. If you use an IV infusion controller, how many milliliters per hour will you set? Fill in the blank and round to the nearest whole number for your final answer.
Answer: mL/hr
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Question 18 of 30
18. Question
Your order reads ceftizoxime (Cefizox) 1 g IV piggyback every 8 hours. The pharmacy supplies it in 100 mL D5W. You need to infuse it over 30 minutes. With a drop factor of 10, what drip-rate will you set? Fill in the blank and round to the nearest whole number for your final answer.
Answer: gtts/min
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Question 19 of 30
19. Question
Your order reads piperacillin/tazobactam (Zosyn) 4.5 g in 100 mL D5W IV over 1 hour. You have microdrip tubing. What drip rate in gtts/min will you set? Fill in the blank and round to the nearest whole number for your final answer.
Answer: gtts/min
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Question 20 of 30
20. Question
You have on hand morphine 500 mg in 500 mL normal saline. You need to administer morphine 80 mg/hour in a continuous IV infusion to a patient with terminal cancer pain. How many milliliters per hour will you set on the controller? Fill in the blank and round to the nearest whole number for your final answer.
Answer: mL/hr
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Question 21 of 30
21. Question
Heparin sodium, 1000 units/hour IV, is ordered for a patient with a blood clot in the leg. It is supplied as 50,000 units in 500 mL of dextrose and water. How many milliliters per hour should be set on the controller? Fill in the blank and round to the nearest whole number for your final answer.
Answer: mL/hr
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Question 22 of 30
22. Question
A health care provider prescribes cefazolin (Kefzol) 1 g IV three times a day to a patient with pneumonia. It is supplied in 100 mL dextrose and water, to run over 20 minutes. How many milliliters per hour should you set the controller to deliver? Fill in the blank and round to the nearest whole number for your final answer.
Answer: mL/hr
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Question 23 of 30
23. Question
Your order reads ceftizoxime (Cefizox) 1 g IV piggyback (IVPB) every 8 hours. The pharmacy supplies it in 100 mL D5W. You need to infuse it over 30 minutes. Using gravity drip tubing with a drop factor of 10, how fast will you run the piggyback? Fill in the blank and round to the nearest whole number for your final answer.
Answer: gtts/min
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Question 24 of 30
24. Question
You have an order for fosphenytoin (Cerebyx) 100 phenytoin equivalents (PE) IVPB qid. It arrives in 50 mL of normal saline, with a note on the piggyback bag not to infuse faster than 150 per minute. How many milliliters per hour should you set on the controller? Fill in the blank and round to the nearest whole number for your final answer.
Answer: mL/hr
*Write numbers only on the space provided, do not include separators like commas, spaces, and periods.
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Question 25 of 30
25. Question
You need to infuse corticotropin (Acthar) 25 U in 500 mL D5W IV over 8 hours. How many milliliters per hour do you infuse on a controller? Fill in the blank and round to the nearest whole number for your final answer.
Answer: mL/hour
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Question 26 of 30
26. Question
A patient is to receive cefuroxime (Zinacef) 1 g in D5W 100 mL IV every 8 hours, to infuse over 60 minutes. How many drops per minute do you set on gravity tubing that delivers 10 gtts/mL? Fill in the blank and round to the nearest whole number for your final answer.
Answer: gtts/min
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Question 27 of 30
27. Question
Your order reads gatifloxacin (Tequin) 400 mg IV daily. It arrives in 50 mL of D5W, to run over 30 minutes. How many drops per minute will you set if you have tubing with a drop factor of 10? Fill in the blank and round to the nearest whole number for your final answer.
Answer: gtts/min
Correct
Incorrect
Question 28 of 30
28. Question
You have an order to administer heparin sodium IV at 1000 units per hour. It is supplied by your pharmacy as 25,000 units in 250 mL of D5W. For how many milliliters per hour should you program the controller? Fill in the blank and round to the nearest whole number for your final answer.
Answer: mL/hr
Correct
Incorrect
Question 29 of 30
29. Question
An IVPB of ranitidine hydrochloride (Zantac) 50 mg in 100 mL D5W is to run over 45 minutes. The tubing has a drip factor of 15. How many drops per minute should you deliver? Fill in the blank and round to the nearest whole number for your final answer.
Answer: gtts/minute
Correct
Incorrect
Question 30 of 30
30. Question
You need to administer IV piperacillin sodium/tazobactam sodium (Zosyn) 3.375 g in 50 mL D5W to run over 20 minutes. How many drops per minute do you set if the IV tubing has a drop factor of 15? Fill in the blank and round to the nearest whole number for your final answer.
Answer: gtts/minute
Correct
Incorrect
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2.IV Flow Rate Calculation Practice Questions (Part 2:30 Items)
The IV flow rate study guide below will help refresh your memory on calculating IV flow rates including a refresher on the formulas and nursing considerations when maintaining IV therapy.
To calculate IV flow rates, the nurse must know the total volume of fluid to be infused and the specific time for the infusion.
Intravenously administered fluids are prescribed most frequently based on milliliters per hour to be administered. The volume per hour prescribed is administered by setting the flow rate, which is counted in drops per minute.
There are three commonly used ways on how to indicate flow rates:
Milliliters per hour (mL/h). Calculated by dividing the total infusion volume by the total infusion time in hours
Number of drops per one (1) minute (gtts/min). Calculated by multiplying the total infusion volume to the drop factor and then dividing by the total infusion time in minutes.
Infusion time. Total volume to infuse divided by milliliters per hour being infused.
Drop factor (sometimes called drip factor). The total number of drops delivered per milliliters of solution. This rate varies by brand and types of infusion sets and are printed on the package of the infusion set.
Generally, macrodrops have a drop factor of 10, 12, 15, or 20 drops/mL.
Microdrip sets, on the other hand, have a drop factor of 60 drops/mL.
FORMULA FOR CALCULATING MILLILITERS PER HOUR (mL/hour)
EXAMPLE:
Your patient needs 2,000 mL of saline IV over 4 hours for a patient with deficient fluid deficient fluid volume. How many milliliters per hour will you set on a controller?
Where:
Total infusion volume (mL) = 2,000 mL Total infusion time = 4 hours
Computation:
Answer:
500 mL/hour
FORMULA FOR CALCULATING DROPS PER MINUTE (gtts/min)
EXAMPLE: A patient is receiving 250 mL normal saline IV over 4 hours, using tubing with a drip factor of 10 drops/mL. How many drops per minute should be delivered?
Where:
Total infusion volume = 250 mL Drop factor = 10 gtts/mL Total infusion time = 4 hours or 240 minutes
Calculate:
Answer: 10 gtts/min (rounded off)
Fun fact: gtts is an abbreviation of the latin word “guttae” meaning drops.
FORMULA FOR INFUSION TIME (H)
Example:
A patient is ordered to received 1,000 mL of NSS to be administered at 125 mL/hour. How many hours will pass before you change the IV bag?
Where:
Total volume to infuse = 1,000 mL mL infused per hour = 125 mL/hour
Calculate:
Answer:
8 hours
How to Regulate IV Fluids?
The following factors affect the infusion rate if an infusion pump is not used:
Size of the catheter. A catheter with a larger bore allows solution to flow faster.
Height of the IV bag. The higher the IV bag, the faster the infusion will flow.
Position of the insertion site. A change in the position of the client’s arm may decrease the flo, while elevation on a pillow may increase flow rate. If the IV is inserted into the antecubital area, the solution can flow freely if the client extends the arm and can be obstructed if the client bends the arm at the elbow.
Monitoring and regulating the rate of the infusion is a responsibility of the nurse.
A slower rate is usually necessary for older adults or those who are at risk of fluid overload (e.g., heart disease or client with head injury).
A faster IV flow rate is therapeutic for patients who have lost large amounts of body fluids and those who are severely dehydrated.
Never increase the rate of infusion if it is running behind schedule. Check for obstructions and collaborate with primary care providers to determine the patient’s ability to tolerate an increased flow rate.
Flow rate is regulated by tightening or releasing the IV tubing clamp and counting the drops for 15 seconds then multiplying the number 4 to get drops per minute.
Sometimes, the IV rate order will say “to keep open” (TKO) or “keep vein open” (KVO). This order does not specify the Milliliters per hour. Generally, KVO is infused at 50 mL/h.
Flow-Control Devices
Flow-control devices are any manual, mechanical, or electronic infusion device used to regulate the IV flow rate. These devices may include manual flow regulators, elastomeric balloon pumps, and electronic infusion devices.
Electronic infusion devices (EIDs)
EIDs are often used in acute care settings and use positive pressure to deliver a preset fluid volume at preset limits.
They are programmed to regulate the IV flow rate in either drops per minute or milliliters per hour.
EIDs use gravity to maintain the flow of the IV fluid. They sense the rate and amount of IV fluid.
An alarm is set off if there is air in the tubing, the bag is empty, or the flow is obstructed. However, the nurse should still conduct regular evaluations of the IV site.
Multichannel pumps
Another type of flow-control device that can deliver several medications and fluids (from either bags, bottles, or syringes) at the same time, at multiple rates.
Multichannel pumps usually have two to four channels with each channel that can be programmed independently.
Mechanical flow-control devices
Are nonelectric devices used to regular IV flow rate. These are in-line devices with a manual regulator that controls the amount of fluid to be administered.
Rotating a dial sets the flow rate.
Elastomeric infusion pumps
Are disposable, portable, and nonelectric pumps that are prefilled with medication and connect to the client’s needleless connector to deliver a controlled rate of medication.
General Nursing Considerations
Monitor for infiltration or irritation. Inspect the insertion site for fluid infiltration. If present, stop the infusion and remove the catheter. Restart the infusion at another site and start supportive treatment by elevating or applying heat to the site.
Look for signs of infiltration. Infiltration occurs when the IV fluid is not flowing into the client’s vein but into surrounding tissues. Signs of infiltration include swelling or puffiness, coolness, pain at the insertion site, and tenderness in the area.
Monitor for signs of phlebitis. Phlebitis is the inflammation of the vein. Signs include pain and tenderness, swelling, and warmth in the area. If phlebitis occurs, stop infusion and restart at another site. Do not use the injured vein again.
Regularly monitor IV flow rate. Monitor IV flow rate regularly (every hour) even if the solution is administered through an IV pump.
Assess for fluid overload. Regularly assess the patient for signs of fluid overload: increased heart rate, increased respirations, and increased lung congestion.
Risk for fluid overload. IV flow-control devices should be used for older and pediatric patients when administering IV fluids. These age groups are at risk for complications of fluid overload.
Proper documentation. Document all findings on the IV flow sheet or in the computer. Including the total amount of fluid administered, and any adverse responses of the client.
Recommended Links
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4 COMMENTS
Just wanted to let you know that question 25 is incorrect.
It should be 137 gtts/min not 138 gtts/min. In your explanation, you’re not following the rules of BEDMAS where you should divide 275/120 first before multiplying by 60. If you follow BEDMAS you get 137.4 which you would round down to 137 gtts/min
Just wanted to let you know that question 25 is incorrect.
It should be 137 gtts/min not 138 gtts/min. In your explanation, you’re not following the rules of BEDMAS where you should divide 275/120 first before multiplying by 60. If you follow BEDMAS you get 137.4 which you would round down to 137 gtts/min
i think question 2 and 5 are also incorrect, please let me know if i am wrong, thanks
The NTG question is incorrect. The question states 5 mcg/min, but the problem is solved using 15 mcg/min.
No matter how you do the math, 275 / 2 x 60 / 60 = 137.5 = 138. The answer is not 137.4. :)