A nurse is preparing to administer 1,000 mL of lactated Ringer's IV over 6 hr. The drop factor of the manual IV tubing is 10 gtt/mL. The nurse should set the manual IV infusion to deliver how many gtt/min? (Round the answer to the nearest whole number. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.)

A) "The amount of blood pumped by the heart through the circulatory system in 1 minute."
This statement describes cardiac output, which is the volume of blood pumped by the heart per minute, and is not directly related to digestion.

B) "Smooth muscle movement of the GI tract by way of contractions."
This statement describes peristalsis, which is the rhythmic contraction of smooth muscles in the gastrointestinal tract that propels food and waste materials through the digestive system. While peristalsis is an important aspect of digestion, it does not encompass the entire process.

C) "Neutralization by use of bicarbonate from pancreatic and biliary secretions."
This statement refers to the neutralization of acidic chyme from the stomach by bicarbonate ions released from pancreatic and biliary secretions in the duodenum. While this process is a part of digestion, it specifically addresses the regulation of pH rather than the breakdown of food molecules into absorbable forms.

D) "It is the process when food is broken down into molecules that can be absorbed."
This statement accurately describes digestion, which is the process by which complex food molecules are broken down into simpler forms (such as carbohydrates into sugars, proteins into amino acids, and fats into fatty acids and glycerol) that can be absorbed and utilized by the body. Digestion occurs in various stages along the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and involves the action of enzymes, acids, and mechanical processes to facilitate the breakdown of food into absorbable nutrients.

To calculate the rate of administration in milliliters per hour (mL/hr):

First, find the total volume to be infused: 1000 mL

Next, divide the total volume by the total time in hours: 1000 mL ÷ 5 hours = 200 mL/hr

Therefore, you will administer the solution at a rate of 200 mL/hr.

To calculate the rate of administration in drops per minute (drops/min):

First, find the total drops: 1000 mL × 15 drops/mL = 15,000 drops

Next, divide the total drops by the total time in minutes: 15,000 drops ÷ (5 hours × 60 minutes/hour) = 50 drops/min

Therefore, you will administer the solution at a rate of 200 mL/hr and 50 drops/min.