Lesson overview
mcg/kg/min Infusion Calculations: Dose Rate to mL/hr
Ready when you are
Start with short teaching slides, then answer the lesson questions. Your progress stays on this browser.
Learning outcomes
What you will learn
- Recognise mcg as microgram and read mcg/kg/min (micrograms/kg/min) in plain English.
- Use the authorised dosing weight for the medicine/order; do not choose actual, ideal or adjusted weight by convenience.
- Change a per-minute medication rate into a per-hour medication rate.
- Change micrograms to milligrams when the prepared concentration uses mg/mL.
- Use concentration to change a medication rate into mL/hr.
- Work backwards from mL/hr to the mcg/kg/min dose rate represented by the same current pump rate, concentration and authorised dosing weight.
- Keep smart-pump dose-rate units separate from mL/hr and stop when required current values conflict or are missing.
Clinical connection
Why this matters
The ordered medication rate and the pump rate describe different things. Keeping each unit attached to its number helps you see which small conversion comes next and makes the result easier to check.
Quick concept
How to convert mcg/kg/min to mL/hr
Multiply the authorised dose rate by the verified dosing weight to find mcg/min, multiply by 60 to convert to mcg/hr, then divide by the exact infusion concentration in mcg/mL to obtain mL/hr.
Formula
mL/hr = (mcg/kg/min × kg × 60) ÷ concentration (mcg/mL)
Worked example
Educational example: 5 mcg/kg/min for 70 kg with a verified concentration of 1000 mcg/mL.
(5 × 70 × 60) ÷ 1000 = 21 mL/hr
Answer: 21 mL/hr
Use only the authorised dosing weight and the exact current concentration that belong to the same infusion state. The arithmetic does not select a medicine, dose, concentration or titration target.
Lesson plan
How the lesson works
- 1
Learn
Short teaching slides explain one idea at a time with plain-language examples.
- 2
Practise
Answer calculation or scenario questions and receive immediate feedback.
- 3
Finish
Complete the lesson check and save your learning progress on this browser.
Keep going
Learn, practise, apply and check this skill
Use the page that matches what you need next. Each resource has a different job, so the lesson can stay focused on teaching the skill.
Practise
mcg/kg/min practice questions
Practise forward and reverse weight-based infusion calculations across four levels.
Understand
mcg/kg/min infusion guide
Review dose rate, concentration, dosing weight, the ×60 step and reverse checks.
Check
mcg/kg/min Infusion Rate Calculator
Calculate the pump rate when the authorised dose, dosing weight and concentration are known.
Apply
Medication & IV Safety cases
Apply weight-based infusion maths inside clinical medication scenarios.