A nurse is preparing to administer oxytocin 3 milliunits/min via continuous IV infusion to a client for augmentation of labor. Available is oxytocin 10 units in 0.9% sodium chloride 1,000 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.)

Determine the total dose of oxytocin to be administered per hour (milliunits/hr). Ordered rate: 3 milliunits/min Total dose rate (milliunits/hr) = 3 milliunits/min×60 min/hr = 180 milliunits/hr. Convert the available concentration from units/mL to milliunits/mL. Available concentration: 10 units in 1, 000 mL Convert units to milliunits: 10 units × 1000 milliunits/unit =10,000 milliunits Concentration (milliunits/mL) = 10,000 milliunits/1,000 mL = 10 milliunits/mL. Calculate the infusion rate in milliliters per hour (mL/hr). Infusion rate (mL/hr) = Total dose rate (milliunits/hr) / Concentration (milliunits/mL) = 180 milliunits/hr/10 milliunits/mL = 18 mL/hr.