Patient is ordered 1000mls of normal saline over 6 hours.Calculate how many drops per minute need to be delivered? (The drop factor is 20 drops/ml)Answer should be appropriately rounded to a whole number.

To calculate the number of drops per minute, follow these steps:

1. Determine the total volume to be infused in milliliters (ml):

   • The total volume ordered is 1000 ml.

2. Determine the total time for the infusion in minutes:

   • The total time ordered is 6 hours.
   • Convert hours to minutes: $6 \text{ hours} \times 60 \text{ minutes/hour} = 360 \text{ minutes}$.

3. Calculate the flow rate in ml per minute:

   • Flow rate (ml/min) = Total volume (ml) / Total time (min)
   • Flow rate = $\frac{1000 \text{ ml}}{360 \text{ min}} \approx 2.78 \text{ ml/min}$.

4. Determine the drop factor (drops/ml):

   • The drop factor given is 20 drops/ml.

5. Calculate the drops per minute:

   • Drops per minute = Flow rate (ml/min) $\times$ Drop factor (drops/ml)
   • Drops per minute = $2.78 \text{ ml/min} \times 20 \text{ drops/ml} \approx 55.56 \text{ drops/min}$.

6. Round to the nearest whole number:

   • Drops per minute = 56 drops/min.

Therefore, the infusion should be delivered at 56 drops per minute.