Calculating Heparin Infusion Rate

A nurse is preparing to administer a continuous intravenous infusion of a potent anticoagulant, heparin. The prescribed order is set for a therapeutic range of 18 to 20 units/kg/hour based on the patient's weight, which is 75 kg. The pharmacy has prepared a heparin solution at a concentration of 5000 units in 500 mL of normal saline. The nurse must calculate the correct rate of infusion in mL/hour to deliver the appropriate dose of heparin.

To ensure the patient remains within the therapeutic range, the nurse will need to fill in the blank space with the calculated rate of infusion.

Calculate the rate of infusion (mL/hour): ___ mL/hour