IV Infusion & Drip Rate Practice Problems
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IV rate problems come in two flavors: gravity drip rates in drops per minute, and pump rates in mL/hr for weight-based infusions. Drip rate uses the tubing's drop factor; weight-based infusions follow a fixed three-step chain from concentration to dose to pump rate.
Formulasdrops/min = (volume × drops per mL) ÷ time in minutesmL/hr: bag concentration (mcg/mL) → dose (mcg/min) → × 60 → ÷ concentration
Worked example
Infuse 1,000 mL over 8 hours with a set that gives 15 drops/mL. (1,000 × 15) ÷ (8 × 60) = 15,000 ÷ 480 = 31.25 → 31 drops/min.
💡 Always round drops to a whole number, and round pump rates exactly as the question instructs.