A nurse is preparing to administer lidocaine via continuous IV infusion at 4 mg/min. Available is lidocaine 2 g dextrose 5% in water 500 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: Determine the concentration of the available solution in mg/mL. Total drug amount: 2 g Total volume: 500 mL Convert grams (g) to milligrams (mg): 2 g × 1000 mg/g = 2000 mg Available concentration (mg/mL) = 2000 mg/500 mL = 4 mg/mL. Calculate the infusion rate in milliliters per minute (mL/min). Desired rate: 4 mg/min Available concentration: 4 mg/mL Rate (mL/min) = Desired rate (mg/min) / Available concentration (mg/mL) = 4 mg/min/4 mg/mL = 1 mL/min. Convert the rate from milliliters per minute (mL/min) to milliliters per hour (mL/hr). Rate (mL/hr) = Rate (mL/min) ×60 min/hr = 1 mL/min×60 min/hr = 60 mL/hr.