In drip rate problems you will often have to convert both the amount of the drug (usually the quantity in the numerator of the drip fraction) and the time factor (usually the quantity in the denominator of the drip rate fraction). This is done as explained and demonstrated in the first of the drip rate conversions shown below.

1. The medication order for a patient is 400 ml of a drug over a 3 hour period at a drop rate (drip factor) of 15 gtt (drops)/ml. What is the drip rate in drops/min?

The application rate of the medication is 400 ml in 3 hours at 15 drops/ml

The desired conversion is

To convert the top unit from ml to drops multiply by the factor

To convert the bottom unit from hr to min multiply by the factor

2. The order for a patient is 900 cc at 30 ml/hr at 15 drops/ml. What is the drip rate in drops/ml and how long will administration of this drug take to deliver the 900 cc?

The desired conversion is

To convert the top unit from ml to drops multiply by the factor

To convert the bottom unit from hr to min multiply by the factor

3. Insulin is to be administered to a patient at a drip rate of 20 cc/hr with an insulin solution which contains 50 units in 500 cc. How many units per hour is the patient receiving?

4. A patient is to be given 650 ml of a drug over a 5 hour period at 20 drops/ml. What will be the drip rate?

5. How long will it take to administer 1000 cc at a drop factor of 15 drop/ml and a drip rate of 50 drop/min?