Numeracy for Nursing Practice

IV Infusions: Calculating Drip Rates in drops/min

• IV Infusions: Calculating Drip Rates in drops/min

  Drip rates are just as straightforward to calculate as ml/hr flow rates. There is a slightly different formula to remember, but as long as you are comfortable with cancelling and multiplying fractions, plus one of the written division methods, you should have no difficulty - even without a calculator! Use the supporting resources in the Calculation Strategies and Fractions topics, or feel free to request a tutorial or workshop if you need a refresher on these.

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    Flow Rates (mls/hr) and Drip Rates (drops/min) Formulae File

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    This printable poster contains the entire family of related formulae that you might need for solving IV infusion calculations - volumes, rates and times.

    It is important to understand the difference between flow rates (mls/hr) and drip rates (drops/min) so that you can use the correct time unit. The clue is in the rate unit - for mls/hr work in hours and for drops/min, work in minutes. Remember to convert if necessary!

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    University of Essex - Drip Rates Workbook File

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    This workbook and presentation were used in the Skills Lab Workshop delivered to the Year 2 Adult Nursing Cohort on 4 June 2014. They contain revision resources, worked examples and practise questions for drip rates as well as time and volume calculations.

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    Drip Rates Powerpoint File

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    This Powerpoint presentation accompanies the drip rates revision workbook.

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    Confused by drop factors? This short video, produced by RMIT University in Australia, might help to explain what's going on.

    Drop Factors - RMIT University

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    Calculating a drip rate URL

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    This is a lovely resource from Flinders University - a School of Nursing in Australia - which will walk you through the formula that is taught here. There is also a pdf link provided below, in case your device does not allow Flash.

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    Drip Rates - Flinders University PDF URL

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    Drip Rate Calculation Examples URL

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    You can work through these more complex examples from Queen's University Belfast to practise your drip rate calculation skills. Click 'Add Question' to work your way through the question bank. The screencast demonstrates a different formula, which is slightly longer and more complicated, but works just as well.

    Click on this link will open the resource in a new window.

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    Conversion Chart - Hours to Minutes File

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    This chart will help you convert hours to minutes easily. You may find it useful in drip rate calculations.

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    Drip Rate Calculations - Student Workbook 2013

    This workbook was provided for 2nd year BSc Nursing Students during a Skills Lab session on Drip Rate Calculations in August 2013. You may find it useful to help you to understand the strategies and formulae used. Click this link to view the book online.