Critical Care Dosage Calculations

Chapter 17

Calculate the infusion rate (mL/hr) for these medication orders. Round to the nearest tenth mL.

1. A provider orders phenylephrine IV at 50 mcg/min. The IV bag contains 8 mg phenylephrine in 100 mL NS. _____ mL/hr
2. A provider orders amiodarone IV at 2.5 mg/min. The IV bag contains 900 mg amiodarone in 250 mL D₅W. _____ mL/hr
3. A provider orders nitroprusside IV at 150 mcg/min. The IV bag contains 40 mg in 250 mL D₅W. _____ mL/hr
4. A provider orders norepinephrine IV at 8 mcg/min. The IV bag contains 6 mg norepinephrine in 200 mL D₅W. _____ mL/hr
5. A provider orders epinephrine IV at 1 mcg/min. The IV bag contains 1 mg epinephrine in 250 mL NS. _____ mL/hr
6. A provider orders inamrinone IV at 0.01 mg/kg/min. The IV bag contains 500 mg inamrinone in 250 mL solution. The patient weighs 45 kg. _____ mL/hr
7. A provider orders nesiritide IV at 0.015 mcg/kg/min. The IV bag contains 2 mg nesiritide in 250 mL solution. The patient weighs 64 kg. _____ mL/hr
8. A provider orders dopamine IV at 8 mcg/kg/min. The IV bag contains 400 mg dopamine in 250 mL. The patient weighs 82 kg. _____mL/hr
9. A provider orders milrinone IV at 0.2 mcg/kg/min. The IV bag contains 40 mg milrinone in 150 mL NS. The patient weighs 59 kg. _____ mL/hr
10. A provider orders fenoldopam IV at 0.25 mcg/kg/min. The IV bag contains 40 mg fenoldopam in 500 mL D₅W. The patient weighs 78 kg. _____ mL/hr

Calculate the mg/min or mcg/min dosage from the mL/hr flow rate of the IV. Round to the nearest tenth mg or mcg.

1. An IV of lidocaine is infusing at 28 mL/hr. The IV bag contains 500 mg of lidocaine in 100 mL solution. Calculate the mg/min dosage. _____ mg/min
2. An IV of labetalol is infusing at 21 mL/hr. The IV bag contains 150 mg labetalol in 250 mL D₅W. Calculate the mg/min dosage. _____ mg/min
3. An IV of tirofiban is infusing at 14 mL/hr. The IV bag contains 30 mg of tirofiban in 250 mL NS. Calculate the mcg/min dosage. _____ mcg/min
4. An IV of infliximab is infusing at 25 mL/hr. The IV bag contains 300 mg of infliximab in 250 mL NS. Calculate the mcg/min dosage. _____ mcg/min
5. An IV of epinephrine is infusing at 23 mL/hr. The IV bag contains 1 mg of epinephrine in 250 mL NS. Calculate the mcg/min dosage. _____ mcg/min

Calculate the mL/hr flow rate range for the following IV infusions. Round to the nearest tenth mL.

1. A provider orders a procainamide IV drip to begin at 2.5 mg/min. The maximum dose is 6 mg/min. The IV bag contains 1 g procainamide in 200 mL D₅W. _____ mL/hr
2. A provider orders a milrinone IV drip to begin at 0.375 mcg/kg/min. The maximum dose is 0.75 mcg/kg/min. The patient weighs 77 kg. The IV bag contains 200 mg milrinone in 200 mL NS. _____ mL/hr
3. A provider orders an argatroban IV drip to begin at 2 mcg/kg/min. The maximum dose is 10 mcg/kg/min. The patient weighs 49 kg. The IV bag contains 250 mg of argatroban in 250 mL D₅W. _____ mL/hr
4. A provider orders a cisatracurium IV drip to begin at 2.5 mcg/kg/min. The maximum dose is 8 mcg/kg/min. The patient weighs 65 kg. The IV bag contains 125 mg cisatracurium in 100 mL D₅W. _____ mL/hr
5. A provider orders a dobutamine IV drip to begin at 2 mcg/kg/min. The maximum dose is 20 mcg/kg/min. The patient weighs 56 kg. The IV bag contains 250 mg dobutamine in 1,000 mL D₅W. _____ mL/hr

Calculate the current dose infusing. Then determine if the dose is within or outside of the prescribed dose.

1. A diltiazem IV drip is infusing at 9.1 mL/hr. The IV bag contains 250 mg of diltiazem in 250 mL D₅W. The prescribed dosage range is 84 to 167 mcg/min. The current dose infusing is _____ mcg/min. Round to the nearest tenth mcg. The current dose is _____ (within/outside) the prescribed dose of 84 to 167 mcg/min.
2. A conivaptan IV drip is infusing at 6.9 mL/hr. The IV bag contains 40 mg conivaptan in 250 mL D₅W. The prescribed dosage range is 13.8 to 26.7 mcg/min. The current dose infusing is _____ mcg/min. Round to the nearest tenth mcg. The current dose is _____ (within/outside) the prescribed dose of 13.8 to 26.7 mcg/min.
3. An esmolol IV drip is infusing at 36 mL/hr. The IV bag contains 2 g esmolol in 150 mL NS. The prescribed dosage range is 50 to 200 mcg/kg/min. The patient weighs 92 kg. The current dose infusing is _____ mcg/min. Round to the nearest tenth mcg. The current dose is _____ (within/outside) the prescribed dose of 50 to 200 mcg/kg/min.
4. An isoproterenol IV drip is infusing at 30.4 mL/hr. The IV bag contains 2.5 mg isoproterenol in 250 mL D₅W. The prescribed dosage range is 0.5 to 6 mcg/min. The current dose infusing is _____ mcg/min. Round to the nearest tenth mcg. The current dose is _____ (within/outside) the prescribed dose of 0.5 to 6 mcg/min.
5. A phenylephrine IV drip is infusing at 6 mL/hr. The IV bag contains 150 mg in 200 mL NS. The prescribed dosage range is 40 to 80 mcg/min. The current dose infusing is _____ mcg/min. Round to the nearest tenth mcg. The current dose is _____ (within/outside) the prescribed dose of 40 to 80 mcg/min.