A nurse is preparing to administer dobutamine 10 mcg/kg/min by continuous IV infusion to a newborn who weighs 4 kg. Available is dobutamine 250 mg in 500 mL dextrose 5% in water. The nurse should set the IV pump to deliver how many mL/hr? (Round the answer to the nearest tenth. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.)

Calculate the total dose of dobutamine to be administered per minute (mcg/min). Ordered rate: 10 mcg/kg/min Patient weight: 4 kg Total dose rate (mcg/min) = 10 mcg/kg/min x 4 kg = 40 mcg/min. Calculate the total dose of dobutamine to be administered per hour (mcg/hr). Total dose rate (mcg/hr) = 40 mcg/min x 60 min/hr = 2400 mcg/hr. Calculate the concentration of the available solution in micrograms per milliliter (mcg/mL). Available concentration: 250 mg in 500 mL Convert mg to mcg: 250 mg x 1000 mcg/mg = 250,000 mcg Concentration (mcg/mL) = 250,000 mcg / 500 mL = 500 mcg/mL Calculate the infusion rate in milliliters per hour (mL/hr). Infusion rate (mL/hr) = Total dose rate (mcg/hr) / Concentration (mcg/mL) = 2400 mcg/hr / 500 mcg/mL = 4.8 mL/hr