A client weighing 72.4 kg is receiving an infusion of nitroprusside at 75 ml/hour. What is the dosage in mcg/kg/minute?

To determine the dosage in mcg/kg/minute for the nitroprusside infusion, we start by understanding the infusion rate and the weight of the client.

Given:

• Infusion rate: 75 ml/hour

• Client weight: 72.4 kg

First, we need to convert the infusion rate from ml/hour to ml/minute:

75 ml/hour = 75 ml ÷ 60 minutes = 1.25 ml/minute

Next, we identify the concentration of the nitroprusside solution, which is generally found on the medication label. For calculations, let’s use a standard concentration of nitroprusside, which is typically 50 mg in 250 ml.

To find the concentration in mcg/ml:

1 mg = 1000 mcg, therefore:

50 mg = 50,000 mcg,

Concentration = 50,000 mcg ÷ 250 ml = 200 mcg/ml.

Now we can find the amount of nitroprusside being infused per minute:

1.25 ml/minute × 200 mcg/ml = 250 mcg/minute.

To convert this dosage to mcg/kg/minute, we need to divide by the client's