A client is receiving a secondary IV infusion of azithromycin 500 mg in 500 mL of normal saline (NS) to be infused over 2 hours. The IV administration set delivers 20 gtt/mL. How many gtt/min should the nurse regulate the infusion? (Enter numerical value only. If rounding is required, round to the nearest whole number.)

Rationale: Total volume to be infused = 500 mL. Infusion time in minutes = 2 hours × 60 minutes/hour = 120 minutes. Drop factor of the IV administration set = 20 gtt/mL. Calculate the flow rate in drops per minute (gtt/min). Flow rate (gtt/min) = (Total volume (mL) × Drop factor (gtt/mL)) / Infusion time (min) = (500 mL × 20 gtt/mL) / 120 min = 10000 / 120 gtt/min = 83.333... gtt/min. Round the answer to the nearest whole number. = 83 gtt/min