A patient requires 250 mL of D5W to be infused over 4 hours with a microdrip set that has a drop factor of 60 gtt/mL. What is the required drip rate in gtt/min?

A. 40 gtt/min: This rate results in an infusion of approximately 160 mL per hour, which would deliver the total volume in about 1.5 hours. Such a rapid administration of D5W could cause fluid overload or glycemic fluctuations. It is mathematically inconsistent with the prescribed 4-hour duration. B. 30 gtt/min: Setting the drip at this rate delivers 125 mL per hour, completing the 250 mL infusion in only 2 hours. This represents a significant deviation from the provider's order for a 4-hour administration period. It fails to maintain the intended slow, steady rate of venous access. C. 20 gtt/min: This rate would deliver approximately 80 mL per hour, requiring over 3 hours to complete. While closer than other incorrect options, it still does not achieve the precise 62.5 mL per hour needed for the 4-hour goal. It represents an under-infusion based on the 60 gtt/mL drop factor. D. 63 gtt/min: Using the formula (Total Volume multiplied by Drop Factor) divided by Time in minutes, the calculation is (250 multiplied by 60) divided by 240. This equals 62.5, which rounds to 63 drops per minute. This ensures the 250 mL volume is infused precisely over the 4-hour timeframe.