Question

Dopamine protocol is prescribed for a male client who weigh 198 pounds to maintain the mean arterial pressure (MAP) greater than 65 mmHg. His current MAP is 50 mmHg, so the nurse increases the infusion to 7 mcg/kg/minute. The infusion is labeled dextrose 5% in water (D5W) 500 ml with dopamine 400 mg. The nurse should program the infusion pump to deliver how many ml/hour?

Answer 1

To program an infusion pump for dopamine administration, the patient's weight is converted to kilograms, then the prescribed mcg of dopamine per kilogram per minute is calculated, converted to mg per hour, and the infusion volume is determined from the concentration of the dopamine solution.

Step-by-step explanation:

To calculate the infusion rate in mL/hour for a dopamine drip for a patient weighing 198 pounds (which is approximately 89.8 kg), we must first determine the medication dosage in milligrams (mg) per hour. Since 1 kg equals 2.2 pounds, we first convert the patient's weight to kilograms by dividing 198 pounds by 2.2. We then multiply the weight in kilograms by the prescribed rate of dopamine infusion, which is 7 mcg/kg/minute.

Once we have the total mcg per minute, we convert this to mg per hour. Then, based on the concentration of the dopamine solution, which in this case is 400 mg of dopamine in 500 mL D5W, we can calculate how many milliliters per hour should be infused. This calculation allows the nurse to program the infusion pump accurately to maintain the mean arterial pressure (MAP) above 65 mmHg.

Calculation Steps:
1. Convert patient's weight from pounds to kilograms.
2. Calculate the total mcg of dopamine required per minute based on the patient's weight.
3. Convert this amount to mg per hour.
4. Use the concentration of the solution to determine the infusion volume in mL per hour required to deliver the calculated dose.