A patient in ICU for a diagnosis of stage IV wound to the sacrum goes into Septic Shock. The nurse receives an order to begin a norepinephrine infusion 18 mL/hr. The patient weighs 158 lbs. The norepinephrine is supplied in a concentration of 4mg in 250 ml of D5W. What is the norepinephrine dose in mcg/kg/min? Place your answer to thousandths.

Calculation: Convert patient weight from pounds to kilograms Weight = 158 ÷ 2.2 = 71.818 kg Determine norepinephrine concentration in mcg/mL 4 mg in 250 mL = 4000 mcg ÷ 250 Ml = 16 mcg/mL Calculate the infusion rate in mL/min Infusion rate = 18 mL/hr = 18 ÷ 60 = 0.3 mL/min Calculate norepinephrine dose in mcg/min Dose in mcg/min = 0.3 × 16 = 4.8 mcg/min Calculate dose in mcg/kg/min Dose = 4.8 ÷ 71.818 = 0.0669 mcg/kg/min Round to thousandths = 0.067 mcg/kg/min