Formulas:
Pump Rate (mL/hour) = ordered dose x weight (Kg) x time (60 min in hour)
Concentration of medication (mcg/1 mL)
1. Your 200-pound patient has dopamine ordered at 6 mcg/kg/min. The IV has
400 mg of dopamine in 250 mL. What will be the rate on the pump in
mL/hour?
Weight = 90.9 Kg
Concentration = 1600 mcg/mL
X = 6 x 90.9 x 60 = 32,727.2727/1600 = 20.454545 = 20.5 mL/hour
2. Your patient has a dobutamine IV drip running. The IV rate is 30 mL/hour.
The IV bag has 500 mg of dobutamine in 250 mL of fluid. The patient
weighs 168 pounds. How many mcg/kg/min is your patient receiving?
Dose = pump rate x concentration/
Weight/
Time (60 min in hour)
Weight = 76.363636 kg
Concentration = 2,000 mcg/mL
Dose = pump rate x concentration/
Weight/
Time (60 min in hour)
X = 30 x 2000 = 60,000 mcg/hour/76.363636 = 785.7142 mcg/min/60 = 13.095 =
13.1mcg/kg/min (dose)