A nurse is preparing to administer dopamine 3.5 mcg/kg/min by continuous IV infusion to a client who weighs 57 kg. Available is dopamine 200 mg in dextrose 5% in 0.9% sodium chloride 250 mL. The nurse should set the IV pump to deliver how many mL/hr? (Round the answer to the nearest whole number. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.)

Calculate the desired dose in micrograms per minute (mcg/min). Desired dose (mcg/min) = Desired dose (mcg/kg/min) × Weight (kg) = 3.5 mcg/kg/min × 57 kg = 199.5 mcg/min. Convert the desired dose from micrograms per minute (mcg/min) to milligrams per hour (mg/hr). Desired dose in mg/hr = (199.5 mcg/min / 1000 mcg/mg) × 60 min/hr = 0.1995 mg/min × 60 min/hr = 11.97 mg/hr. Determine the concentration of the available dopamine solution in milligrams per milliliter (mg/mL). Available concentration = Total medication (mg) / Total volume (mL) = 200 mg / 250 mL = 0.8 mg/mL. Calculate the IV pump rate in milliliters per hour (mL/hr). IV pump rate (mL/hr) = Desired dose (mg/hr) / Available concentration (mg/mL) = 11.97 mg/hr / 0.8 mg/mL = 14.9625 mL/hr. Round the answer to the nearest whole number. = 15 mL/hr.