Question

A nurse is preparing to administer dopamine 5 mcg/kg/min by continuous IV infusion to a client who weighs 75 kg. The amount available is dopamine 800 mg/500 ml. The nurse should set the IV pump to deliver how many ml/hr? (Round the answer to the nearest tenth. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.)

Answer 1

ANSWER.

* Calculation of ml/hr.

        ml/hr = Volume(ml) / Time(hr).

   Calculation of volume.

         Volume(ml) = Desired dose(D)/Dose in hand(H) * QUantity(Q).

     Here

          Ordered dose = 5 mcg/kg/min.

          Weight of the patient = 75 kg

Desired dose required for this patient = 5 * 75

                                                             = 375 mcg.

           Dose in hand(H) = 800 mg

Convert mg to mcg for calculation

             1 mg = 1000 mcg

        Dose in hand(H) = 800 * 1000

                                    = 800000 mcg.

               Quantity(Q) = 500 ml

As per above formula

       Volume(ml) of drug required = D/H * Q

                                                     = 375/800000 * 500

                                                     = 0.0005 * 500

                                                     = 0.2 ml.

                             Time = 1 min.

Convert ml/min to ml/hr by multiply with 60 (1hr = 60 min)

                   ml/hr = 0.2 * 60

                            = 12 ml/hr.