A client who weighs 176 pounds receives a prescription for norepinephrine 2 mcg/min intravenously (IV). The IV bag is labeled, "Norepinephrine 4 mg in dextrose 5% in water (D; W) 1,000 mL." How many mL/hour should the nurse program the infusion pump? (Enter numerical value only.).

To calculate the infusion rate in mL/hour for a norepinephrine prescription, you need to use the following formula: (Dose ordered (mcg/min) × 60 (min/hour)) / (Concentration of drug in IV bag (mcg/mL)) = Infusion rate (mL/hour). First, convert the weight-based dose to a total dose per minute: 2 mcg/min. Then, find the concentration of the drug in the IV bag. Since the bag contains 4 mg of norepinephrine in 1,000 mL, convert mg to mcg (1 mg = 1,000 mcg), so 4 mg is 4,000 mcg. Now, divide the total amount of drug by the total volume to get the concentration: 4,000 mcg / 1,000 mL = 4 mcg/mL. Finally, use the formula to calculate the infusion rate: (2 mcg/min × 60 min/hour) / 4 mcg/mL = 30 mL/hour.