A nurse is preparing to administer lidocaine 3 mg/min by continuous IV infusion to a client who has a ventricular arrhythmia. Available is lidocaine 2 g in dextrose 5% in water 250 mL. The nurse should set the IV pump to deliver how many mL/hr? (Round the answer to the nearest whole number. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.)

Calculation: Calculate the total amount of lidocaine in milligrams: Available lidocaine: 2 g Conversion: 2 g × 1000 mg/g = 2000 mg Determine the concentration of the lidocaine solution in milligrams per milliliter: Total lidocaine: 2000 mg Total volume of solution: 250 mL Formula: Concentration (mg/mL) = Total milligrams / Total mL = 2000 mg / 250 mL = 8 mg/mL Calculate the desired dose of lidocaine per hour in milligrams: Ordered dose: 3 mg/min Conversion: 3 mg/min × 60 min/hr = 180 mg/hr Calculate the IV pump flow rate in mL/hr: Formula: Flow rate (mL/hr) = Desired dose per hour (mg/hr) / Concentration (mg/mL) = 180 mg/hr / 8 mg/mL = 22.5 mL/hr Round the answer to the nearest whole number: 22.5 mL/hr rounded to the nearest whole number is 23 mL/hr.