An antibiotic mixed in 100 mL of normal saline solution is to be administered over half an hour. The drop factor is 10 gtt/mL. What is the flow rate in drops per minute?

To determine the flow rate in drops per minute, you first need to calculate the total volume to be infused and the time over which the infusion will occur. In this case, the total volume of the solution is 100 mL, and the infusion duration is half an hour, which is equivalent to 30 minutes.

Next, calculate the total number of drops to be infused. Since the drop factor is specified as 10 drops per mL, you can multiply the total volume by the drop factor to find the total number of drops:

100 mL × 10 gtt/mL = 1000 drops.

Now, divide the total number of drops by the total infusion time in minutes:

1000 drops ÷ 30 minutes = approximately 33.33 drops per minute.

Since the flow rate is typically rounded to the nearest whole number when it comes to practical applications, this indicates a flow rate of 33 drops per minute.

Thus, while the calculated flow rate precisely rounds to about 33.33 drops/minute, the closest value provided in the answer options is 33 drops/minute, making that the most appropriate choice in this scenario.