A client weighing 50 kg is to receive a dobutamine infusion at 3 mcg/kg/min. The available medication is 250 mg of dobutamine in 500 mL DSW. How many ml/hr will the nurse program the pump? (Round the answer to the nearest tenth. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.)

Calculation: Calculate the total dose per minute for the patient. Total dose per minute (mcg/min) = Patient weight (kg) x Ordered dose (mcg/kg/min) = 50 kg x 3 mcg/kg/min = 150 mcg/min. Calculate the concentration of the medication in the IV solution. Convert milligrams (mg) to micrograms (mcg): 250 mg = 250,000 mcg. Concentration (mcg/mL) = Total drug (mcg) / Total volume (mL) = 250,000 mcg / 500 mL = 500 mcg/mL. Calculate the infusion rate in mL per minute. Infusion rate (mL/min) = Desired dose (mcg/min) / Concentration (mcg/mL) = 150 mcg/min / 500 mcg/mL = 0.3 mL/min. Convert the infusion rate from mL per minute to mL per hour. Infusion rate (mL/hr) = Infusion rate (mL/min) x 60 min/hr = 0.3 mL/min x 60 min/hr = 18 mL/hr.