An intensive care nurse assumes care for a client admitted with acute decompensated heart failure. The client, who weighs 176 lb, has a continuous intravenous line infusing dopamine. The medication bag is labeled: dopamine 400 mg in 250 mL of 5% dextrose in water. The smart pump displays a current infusion rate of 15 mL/hr. Based on this data, what dosage of dopamine is the client receiving in mcg/kg/min? Record your answer as a whole number.
Answer: 5 mcg/kg/min
Answer
5
To determine the exact mcg/kg/min dose from a known mL/hr rate, the nurse must work backward through standard infusion calculations. First, convert the weight to kilograms (176 ÷ 2.2 = 80 kg) and find the bag's concentration in mcg/mL (400,000 mcg ÷ 250 mL = 1,600 mcg/mL). Next, determine the hourly dose in mcg by multiplying the volume rate by the concentration (15 mL/hr × 1,600 mcg/mL = 24,000 mcg/hr). Convert this to a per-minute dose by dividing by 60 (24,000 ÷ 60 = 400 mcg/min). Finally, divide by the client's weight in kg to find the exact dose being delivered (400 ÷ 80 = 5 mcg/kg/min).
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Weight-based continuous intravenous infusion calculation (reverse calculation from mL/hr to mcg/kg/min)