How many drops per minute is needed if an IV is set at 60 mL/hr with a drop factor of 10 gtt/mL?

To determine the number of drops per minute when an IV is set at 60 mL/hr with a drop factor of 10 gtt/mL, the following formula is used:

Drops per minute = (Volume in mL/hr × Drop factor in gtt/mL) ÷ 60 minutes

Substituting in the given values:

Drops per minute = (60 mL/hr × 10 gtt/mL) ÷ 60 minutes

Calculating this gives:

Drops per minute = 600 gtt/hr ÷ 60 minutes

This simplifies to:

Drops per minute = 10 gtt/min

When evaluating the options given, it's clear that this calculation results in 10 drops per minute, which is option A, not C as indicated in the answer provided.

An understanding of how to manipulate the variables and how to break down the calculations step-by-step is crucial here. Each component plays a significant role, including ensuring that the unit of time (hours converted to minutes) is correctly accounted for in the calculation.