I work in an ECF that is part of an acute-care hospital. We have policies that strictly forbid certain medications to be given out of the acute care setting and that includes dobutamine. I've NEVER heard of it being given in a nursing home before. I think I would refuse to hang it unless I was given adequate staff to monitor the patient well. I'd seriously question this practice. Sounds like this poor guy is on his way out, so the question by now is probably academic, but really, I'd be sure to push this issue so it doesn't happen again.