Learn how to solve Dopamine IV drip calculations with dimensional analysis.
This review will show you step-by-step how to calculate this weight-based medication (mcg/kg/min) and highlight the pharmacological effects of this drug.
Lecture on Dopamine IV Calculations
What’s Dopamine?
It’s a beta adrenergic agonist that acts as a vasopressor that has positive inotropic effects.
What does this means? Since Dopamine is a vasopressor it causes vasoconstriction. Vasoconstriction narrows vessels, which is really helpful with increasing the blood pressure, systemic vascular resistance, and cardiac output. In addition, due to its positive inotropic effects, it increases heart contractility which causes the heart to pump stronger.
Also, Dopamine can dilate the vessels to the kidneys in low doses (0.5-3 mcg/kg/min). This will increase the blood flow to the kidneys. However, in high doses (>10 mcg/kg/min) it can actually lead to constriction of the renal vessels. So, in LOW doses it can help with increasing urinary output.
Dopamine can be ordered in certain types of shock when a patient is severely hypotensive.
Dopamine is administered IV via a drip: mcg/kg/min
Dopamine Infusion Rate (varies): 2-20 mcg/kg/min…The nurse titrates the medication based on the parameters set by the physician.
Nurse’s Role:
• patient must be on continuous EKG and blood pressure monitoring (this medication can majorly increase the heart rate and blood pressure)
• monitor urinary output (should be >30 mL/hr)
• monitor infusion site (central line the best to use) Why?
- If extravasation occurs (where the medication leaks into the surrounding tissues), tissue ischemia and necrosis can occur…remember Dopamine is a vasoconstrictor. If this happens, Phentolamine (Regitine) can be administered to reverse the effects. This medication causes vasodilation.
Dopamine IV Drip Calculation Practice
I will be using dimensional analysis to solve these problems and will be rounding to the nearest tenth. Always follow your nursing program’s rounding rules.
Question 1:
A patient is ordered to start an IV Dopamine drip at 10 mcg/kg/min. The patient weighs 55 kg. You have a bag of Dopamine that reads 800 mg/500 mL. What will you set the IV pump rate at (mL/hr)?
Important information to know:
Patient’s weight: 55 kg
Dose: 10 mcg/kg/min
Available: 800 mg/ 500 mL
What we’re solving for? mL/hr
55 kg x 10 mcg/min x 1 mg x 500 mL = 275,000 = 0.34375 mL/min
1 1 kg 1,000 mcg 800 mg 800,000
Not done yet, we need to convert from minutes to hours because we need to find mL/hr:
60 minutes x 0.34375 mL = 20.625 = 20.6 mL/hr
1 hour 1 minute
Answer: 20.6 mL/hr
Question 2:
A patient is ordered to start an IV Dopamine drip at 5 mcg/kg/min. The patient weighs 180 lbs. You have a bag of Dopamine that reads 400 mg/250 mL. What will you set the IV pump rate at (mL/hr)?
Important information to know:
Patient’s weight: 180 lb
Dose: 5 mcg/kg/min
Available: 400 mg/ 250 mL
What we’re solving for? mL/hr
180 lb x 1 kg x 5 mcg/min x 1 mg x 250 mL = 225,000= 0.255681 mL/min
1 2.2 lb 1 kg 1,000 mcg 400 mg 880,000
Not done yet, we need to convert from minutes to hours because we need to find mL/hr:
60 minutes x 0.255681 mL = 15.34086 = 15.3 mL/hr
1 hour 1 minute
Answer: 15.3 mL/hr
More Dopamine IV Calculation Practice (Quiz)