Evolve HESI Practice Exam

How many drops per minute should a client weighing 182 pounds receive when Nipride is infused at 5 mcg/kg/min with a 60 gtt/ml drip factor?

1. 120 gtt/min

2. 100 gtt/min

3. 140 gtt/min

4. 124 gtt/min

The correct answer is: 124 gtt/min

To determine the correct number of drops per minute for the client receiving Nipride, we start with the infusion rate based on their weight in kilograms. The client weighs 182 pounds, which can be converted into kilograms by dividing by 2.2, resulting in approximately 82.73 kg. Next, we calculate the infusion rate for Nipride, which is set at 5 mcg/kg/min. Multiplying the client’s weight in kilograms by the infusion rate gives us the total micrograms per minute: 5 mcg/kg/min × 82.73 kg = 413.65 mcg/min. Now, to convert this rate into milliliters per minute, we must consider the concentration of Nipride typically used in clinical settings. If we assume a standard concentration (since this is not provided in the question), we can proceed with a common concentration for further calculations. For example, if we assume the solution is at a concentration of 100 mcg/mL (a common concentration for Nipride), we can divide the total micrograms by the concentration: 413.65 mcg/min ÷ 100 mcg/mL = 4.1365 mL/min. Now, to find the number of drops per minute using