A nurse is preparing to administer dopamine hydrochloride 4 mcg/kg/min via continuous infusion.

Available is dopamine hydrochloride in a solution of 800 mg in a 250 mL bag.

The client weighs 80 kg. The nurse should set the IV infusion to deliver how many mL/hr? (Round the answer to the nearest whole number.

Use a leading zero if it applies.)

Step 1: Convert the dopamine hydrochloride dose from mcg to mg. We know that 1 mg = 1000 mcg. So, 4 mcg = 0.004 mg.

Step 2: Calculate the total amount of dopamine hydrochloride the client needs per minute. We know that the client weighs 80 kg and the dose is 0.004 mg/kg/min. So, 0.004 mg/kg/min × 80 kg = 0.32 mg/min.

Step 3: Convert the total amount of dopamine hydrochloride the client needs per minute to an hourly rate. We know that 1 hour = 60 minutes. So, 0.32 mg/min × 60 min/hr = 19.2 mg/hr.

Step 4: Calculate the volume of the solution that contains 19.2 mg of dopamine hydrochloride. We know that the solution contains 800 mg in 250 mL. So, (19.2 mg ÷ 800 mg) × 250 mL = 6 mL.

Therefore, the nurse should set the IV infusion to deliver 6 mL/hr (rounded to the nearest whole number).