A healthcare provider prescribes a continuous intravenous dopamine infusion at 5\text{ mcg… — NCLEX-RN

A healthcare provider prescribes a continuous intravenous dopamine infusion at $5\text{ mcg/kg/min}$ to support the blood pressure of a client in cardiogenic shock. The client's body weight is recorded as $176\text{ lb}$ . The medication is supplied in an intravenous bag containing $400\text{ mg}$ of dopamine mixed in $250\text{ mL}$ of 5% dextrose in water (D5W). At what rate, in $\text{mL/hr}$ , should the infusion pump be programmed? (Record your answer as a whole number)

Answer: 15 mL/hr

Answer

The correct rate of 15 mL/hr is achieved by converting the client's weight to kg (80 kg), calculating the hourly dose in mg (24 mg/hr), and dividing by the IV bag's concentration (1.6 mg/mL).

Step-by-Step Solution

Convert the client's weight from pounds to kilograms.

176\text{ lb} \div 2.2 = 80\text{ kg}

The prescribed dose is based on the client's weight in kilograms.

Calculate the required dose per minute.

5\text{ mcg/kg/min} \times 80\text{ kg} = 400\text{ mcg/min}

To determine the total micrograms of medication the client needs every minute.

Calculate the total dose required per hour.

400\text{ mcg/min} \times 60\text{ min/hr} = 24,000\text{ mcg/hr}

Infusion pumps are programmed in fluid volume per hour, so the dose must be scaled to an hourly rate.

Convert the hourly dose from micrograms to milligrams.

24,000\text{ mcg} \div 1000 = 24\text{ mg/hr}

The supplied medication in the IV bag is measured in milligrams.

Determine the medication concentration in the supplied IV bag.

400\text{ mg} \div 250\text{ mL} = 1.6\text{ mg/mL}

To know how many milligrams of dopamine are contained in each milliliter of the solution.

Calculate the required volume to be infused per hour.

24\text{ mg/hr} \div 1.6\text{ mg/mL} = 15\text{ mL/hr}

To determine the final setting for the infusion pump in mL/hr.

Key Concept

Weight-based intravenous continuous infusion rate calculation

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