Question

1. The ICU nurse prepares to administer a dobutamine (Dobutrex) drip. The patient weighs 176 lbs. The safe dose range for this medication is 2.5-10mcg/kg/min. The medication preparation delivered by pharmacy is 250mg in 500mL of D5W.

1. What is the safe dose range for this patient? Express your answer in mg.
2. The drip is started at 60mL/hr. Would this be an acceptable action? Explain why or why not.

2. The nurse is preparing to administer a 500mL 0.9% NaCl IV fluid bolus at 250mL/hr. The IV tubing contains a Micro Drip set with a drop factor of 60gtts/mL. In order to administer the fluid bolus at the correct rate, how drops per minute must the nurse observe in the chamber?

Answer 1

Problem 1 : Answer

Safe dose range of the patient is between 0.2 mg/min and 0.8 mg/min or ( between 12 mg/hr and 48 mg/hr)

Drip rate of 60 mL per hour would be acceptable because it is in the safe range ( safe range is between 24 mL/hr and 96 mLper hr)

weight - 176 lbs

Safe dose range - 2.5-10 mcg/kg/min

Medication preparation - 250 mg/ 500 mL

Minimum dose range in mcg/min =     (Cancel out lbs and kg from numerator and denominator)

=  

= 200 mcg/min

ie Minimum dose range in mg/min =    (Cancel out mcg from numerator and denominator)

Minimum dose range in mg/min =

Minimum dose range in mg/min = 0.2 mg/min or ( = 12 mg/hr)

Maximum dose range in mcg/min =   (Cancel out lbs and kg from numerator and denominator)

=

= 800 mcg/min

ie Maximum dose range in mg/min =    (Cancel out mcg from numerator and denominator)

Maximum dose range in mg/min =

Maximum dose range in mg/min = 0.8 mg/min or ( = 48 mg/hr)

Minimum dose in mL/ hr =

= (cancel out mg from numerator and denominator)

Minimum dose in mL/ hr = 24 mL/hr

Maximum dose in mL/ hr =

= (cancel out mg from numerator and denominator)

Maximum dose in mL/ hr = 96 mL/hr

Drip rate of 60 mL per hour would be acceptable because it is in the safe range (safe range is between 24 mL/hr and 96 mLper hr)

Problem 2 : Answer : drops per minute = 250 gtt/minute

IV bolus rate = 250 mL/hr

Gtt/mL = 60gtt/mL

drops per minute =     (Cancel out hr and mL from numerator and denominator)

drops per minute =

drops per minute = 250 gtt/min