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The physician orders 500 mL of NS to infuse at 175 mL/h for a patient with vomiting. Tubing drop factor is 15 gtt/mL. Calculate the flow rate in drops per minute.
Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is ["44"]

Calculation:

  • Convert the infusion rate from milliliters per hour (mL/hr) to milliliters per minute (mL/min).

Infusion rate in mL/min = 175 mL/hr / 60 min/hr

= 2.9166... mL/min.

Tubing drop factor = 15 gtt/mL.

  • Calculate the flow rate in drops per minute (gtt/min).

Flow rate (gtt/min) = Infusion rate (mL/min) × Tubing drop factor (gtt/mL)

           = 2.9166... mL/min × 15 gtt/mL

     = 43.75 gtt/min.

  • Round the answer to the nearest whole number.

 = 44 gtt/min.


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Related Questions

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

A. Respiratory acidosis: Oxycodone, an opioid, can depress the respiratory system, leading to hypoventilation. Reduced breathing leads to the accumulation of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the blood, causing respiratory acidosis, characterized by low pH due to increased CO2 levels.

B. Metabolic acidosis: Metabolic acidosis occurs when there is an accumulation of acid or a loss of bicarbonate in the body. It is not directly associated with opioid overdose, which primarily affects respiratory function rather than metabolic processes.

C. Respiratory alkalosis: Respiratory alkalosis happens when excessive CO2 is exhaled, often due to hyperventilation. This is not typical in opioid overdose, where respiratory depression leads to hypoventilation and CO2 retention, not excess loss.

D. Metabolic alkalosis: Metabolic alkalosis results from excessive loss of acid or retention of bicarbonate, often due to vomiting or diuretic use. Opioid overdose typically leads to respiratory acidosis, not metabolic alkalosis.

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

A. Serum sodium: While sodium levels can be affected in metabolic alkalosis, a positive Chvostek sign is more indicative of a calcium issue rather than a sodium imbalance.

B. Serum calcium: A positive Chvostek sign, which is a twitching of the facial muscles when the facial nerve is tapped, is a clinical sign of hypocalcemia. Hypocalcemia can occur in metabolic alkalosis due to shifts in calcium, and the nurse should check the serum calcium level immediately.

C. Serum magnesium: Magnesium levels can also affect neuromuscular function, but hypocalcemia is more directly related to a positive Chvostek sign. Although magnesium should be monitored, calcium is the priority in this situation.

D. Serum glucose level: Serum glucose levels are not related to the development of metabolic alkalosis or a positive Chvostek sign. Therefore, glucose is not the most immediate concern in this context.

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