A nurse is preparing to administer esmolol 150mcg/kg/min by continuous IV infusion for a client who has a atrial flutter and weighs 62 kg. Available is esmolol 10 mg/mL. The nurse should set the IV pump to deliver how many mL/hr?

Question

A nurse is preparing to administer esmolol 150mcg/kg/min by continuous IV infusion for a client who has a atrial flutter and weighs 62 kg. Available is esmolol 10 mg/mL. The nurse should set the IV pump to deliver how many mL/hr?

Answer 1

First, calculate the client's total dose of esmolol per minute:

150 mcg/kg/min x 62 kg = 9300 mcg/min

Convert 9300 mcg to mg:
9300 mcg ÷ 1000 = 9.3 mg/min

Because the esmolol concentration is 10 mg/mL, the nurse will administer 9.3 mL/min.

To calculate the hourly rate, multiply by 60 minutes:
9.3 mL/min x 60 min = 558 mL/hr

Therefore, the nurse should set the IV pump to deliver 558 mL/hr of esmolol.