The nurse has orders for dopamine at 20 mcg/kg/min. The bag has 500 mg of dopamine in 500 mL. The client weighs 60 kg. What rate will the nurse set?

The infusion rate is 72 mL/hr.

Solution: Find the drug concentration: 500 mg dopamine/500 mL = 1 mg/mL. Convert mg to mcg: 1 mg (1000) = 1000 mcg. Multiply medication amount by client’s weight and time and solve: (20 mcg/kg/min) × 60 kg × 60 min/hr = 72,000. Divide quotient by 1000 for final drop rate: 72,000/1000 mcg per mL = 72 mL/hr.