The nurse has an order to administer a heparin drip at 12 units/kg/hr. The client weighs 178 pounds. The heparin is available as 25,000 units in 500 mL D5W. At which rate should the nurse program the pump?

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The nurse should set the IV pump to 19mL/hr.
Convert the client’s weight to kilograms: 178 lbs/2.2 kg = 80.90 = 81 kg . Calculate the infusion rate: 12 units/kg/hr (81 kg) = 972 units/hr . Set up a proportion to solve for milliliters per hour: 500 mL/25,000 units = x mL/972 units . Calculate and solve for x : 500(972) = 25,000x . 486,000 = 25,000x . Round down to find the rate: x = 19.44 mL = 19 mL/hr .