Help with Dosage Calculations

[2bnurseforce1]

Hellllppppp. Hi everyone I really need help with this dosage calculation. I have been trying to work this problem and don't know where to begin. My calculations test is tomorrow. Please help.

A 100 kg patient is receiving Dopamine @ 9ml/hr. The Dopamine that is hanging is 200 mg in 250 ml. What dose of Dopamine (mcg/kg-min) is the patient receiving?

This was a practice question that my instructor gave us, but she didn't give an answer, so I don't know if I am working the problem right or not.

[FlyingScot, RN]

Show us what you have so far.

[iteachob, MSN, RN]

If you are using dimensional analysis, start your equation with what you are looking for (mcg/kg/min)

[2bnurseforce1]

So far I converted 200mg to 200mcg and got 200000 mcg. Then i did 200000mcg times 9ml/hr / 250ml x 60min x 100kg= 1800000/ 1500000= 1.2

[AirforceRN, RN]

Looks good to me.

I find your method a little confusing but if it works for you...go with it.

[2bnurseforce1]

I have no idea if I am working it right. I normally would use dimensional anaylsis but with this problem i am just not really sure. I found that some of the IV calculations that I have been doing don't really work well with a formula.

[Jonathank]

I'm getting 0.0012

200 mg/250 mL = 7.2 mg/9 mL

7.2 mg/100 kg = 0.072 mg/1 kg

0.072 mg/60 min = 0.0012 mg/1 min

final answer: 0.0012 mg per 1 kg per 1 min

[Jonathank]

And now I see the desired answer is in mcg. Looks like we got the same answer.

[niteowlrn29]

Hey,

I did it dimentinal analysis also. (its the only way I know how to) and I got 1.2mcg/kg/min as well.

9ml/1 hour

200mg/250ml

1person/100kg

1hour/60mins

1000mcg/1mg

everything crosses out except mcg/kg/min

(tried to post it the way i actually would on paper but it kept messing up, so I hope this makes sense to you.

Hope this helps.

Michele