Order: dobutamine 5 mcg/kg/min Patient's weight: 152 lb Available: dobutamine 500 mg in 250 mL D5W What is the flow rate in ml/hr? (Round to the nearest tenths)

1. Convert patient weight from pounds to kilograms: Patient weight (kg) = 152 lb x 0.453592 kg/lb = 68.94 kg 2. Calculate the desired dose in mcg/min: Desired dose (mcg/min) = 5 mcg/kg/min x 68.94 kg = 344.7 mcg/min 3. Convert mcg/min to mg/min: Desired dose (mg/min) = 344.7 mcg/min / 1000 mcg/mg = 0.3447 mg/min 4. Calculate the concentration of dobutamine in the solution: Concentration (mg/mL) = 500 mg / 250 mL = 2 mg/mL 5. Calculate the flow rate in mL/min: Flow rate (mL/min) = Desired dose (mg/min) / Concentration (mg/mL) Flow rate (mL/min) = 0.3447 mg/min / 2 mg/mL = 0.17235 mL/min 6. Calculate the flow rate in mL/hr: Flow rate (mL/hr) = 0.17235 mL/min x 60 min/hr = 10.341 mL/hr 7. Round to the nearest tenth: Flow rate (mL/hr) = 10.3 mL/hr Therefore, the correct answer is 10.4 mL/hr