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.).

The correct answer is 30 mL/hour. Step 1 is to calculate the total amount of norepinephrine in the IV bag: 4 mg norepinephrine ÷ 1000 mL = 0.004 mg/mL Step 2 is to convert the patient's weight from pounds to kilograms: 176 pounds ÷ 2.2 = 80 kilograms Step 3 is to calculate the total amount of norepinephrine the patient will receive per minute: 2 mcg/min × 60 min = 120 mcg/min Step 4 is to convert micrograms (mcg) to milligrams (mg): 120 mcg ÷ 1000 = 0.12 mg Step 5 is to calculate the total volume of norepinephrine needed per hour: 0.12 mg ÷ 0.004 mg/mL = 30 mL/hour Therefore, the nurse should program the infusion pump to deliver 30 mL/hour.