A nurse is preparing to administer nitroglycerin 10 mcg/min via a continuous IV infusion to a client. Available is nitroglycerin 50 mg/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 desired dose of nitroglycerin per hour in micrograms: Ordered dose: 10 mcg/min Conversion: 10 mcg/min × 60 min/hr = 600 mcg/hr Determine the concentration of the nitroglycerin solution in micrograms per milliliter: Total nitroglycerin: 50 mg Convert milligrams to micrograms: 50 mg × 1000 mcg/mg = 50000 mcg Total volume of solution: 250 mL Formula: Concentration (mcg/mL) = Total micrograms / Total mL = 50000 mcg / 250 mL = 200 mcg/mL Calculate the IV pump flow rate in mL/hr: Formula: Flow rate (mL/hr) = Desired dose per hour (mcg/hr) / Concentration (mcg/mL) = 600 mcg/hr / 200 mcg/mL = 3 mL/hr