A client who weighs 176 pounds receives a prescription for norepinephrine 2 mcg/min intravenously (IV). The IV bag is labeled, “Norepinephrine 4 mg in dextrose 5% in water (D;W) 1,000 mL.” How many mL/hour should the nurse program the infusion pump? (Enter numerical value only.).
To determine the infusion rate in mL/hour for the norepinephrine IV, follow these steps:
- Convert the prescribed dose from mcg/min to mg/hour:
- Dosage prescribed = 2 mcg/min
- Convert micrograms to milligrams: 1 mg = 1,000 mcg
- Dosage in mg/min = 2 mcg/min ÷ 1,000 = 0.002 mg/min
- Convert minutes to hours: 60 minutes in 1 hour
- Dosage in mg/hour = 0.002 mg/min × 60 min/hour = 0.12 mg/hour
- Determine the concentration of norepinephrine in the IV bag:
- The IV bag contains 4 mg of norepinephrine in 1,000 mL of solution.
- Concentration = 4 mg / 1,000 mL = 0.004 mg/mL
- Calculate the required infusion rate:
- Infusion rate (mL/hour) = Dosage required (mg/hour) ÷ Concentration (mg/mL)
- Infusion rate = 0.12 mg/hour ÷ 0.004 mg/mL = 30 mL/hour
So, the nurse should program the infusion pump to deliver 30 mL/hour.