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MedTestBankDosage Calculation for Nursing

mcg/kg/min drip calculation practice problems

Dosage calculation practice for nursing students: solve unlimited new problems below with instant checking, or work through the 15 problems with answers further down.

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Formula to use

Concentration (mcg/mL) = drug (mg) × 1,000 ÷ bag volume (mL)

mL/hr = dose (mcg/kg/min) × weight (kg) × 60 ÷ concentration (mcg/mL)

mcg/kg/min = mL/hr × concentration ÷ 60 ÷ weight

Open the mcg/kg/min to ml/hr (iv drips) calculator to check your own numbers step by step.

15 practice problems with answers

Solve each problem on paper first, then open the answer to compare every step.

  1. Order: dobutamine 7.5 mcg/kg/min IV. The patient weighs 91 kg. Available: dobutamine 250 mg in 250 mL. At what rate in mL/hr will you set the pump?

    Show the answer
    1. Concentration: 250 mg × 1,000 ÷ 250 mL = 1,000 mcg/mL.
    2. 7.5 mcg/kg/min × 91 kg = 682.5 mcg/min.
    3. 682.5 mcg/min × 60 = 40,950 mcg/hr.
    4. 40,950 ÷ 1,000 mcg/mL = 40.95 mL/hr, rounded to 41 mL/hr.

    Answer: 41 mL/hr

  2. Order: dopamine 10 mcg/kg/min IV. The patient weighs 81 kg. Available: dopamine 400 mg in 250 mL. At what rate in mL/hr will you set the pump?

    Show the answer
    1. Concentration: 400 mg × 1,000 ÷ 250 mL = 1,600 mcg/mL.
    2. 10 mcg/kg/min × 81 kg = 810 mcg/min.
    3. 810 mcg/min × 60 = 48,600 mcg/hr.
    4. 48,600 ÷ 1,600 mcg/mL = 30.375 mL/hr, rounded to 30.4 mL/hr.

    Answer: 30.4 mL/hr

  3. Order: milrinone 0.375 mcg/kg/min IV. The patient weighs 75 kg. Available: milrinone 20 mg in 100 mL. At what rate in mL/hr will you set the pump?

    Show the answer
    1. Concentration: 20 mg × 1,000 ÷ 100 mL = 200 mcg/mL.
    2. 0.375 mcg/kg/min × 75 kg = 28.13 mcg/min.
    3. 28.13 mcg/min × 60 = 1,687.5 mcg/hr.
    4. 1,687.5 ÷ 200 mcg/mL = 8.438 mL/hr, rounded to 8.4 mL/hr.

    Answer: 8.4 mL/hr

  4. Order: esmolol 50 mcg/kg/min IV. The patient weighs 80 kg. Available: esmolol 2,500 mg in 250 mL. At what rate in mL/hr will you set the pump?

    Show the answer
    1. Concentration: 2,500 mg × 1,000 ÷ 250 mL = 10,000 mcg/mL.
    2. 50 mcg/kg/min × 80 kg = 4,000 mcg/min.
    3. 4,000 mcg/min × 60 = 240,000 mcg/hr.
    4. 240,000 ÷ 10,000 mcg/mL = 24 mL/hr, rounded to 24 mL/hr.

    Answer: 24 mL/hr

  5. Order: milrinone 0.375 mcg/kg/min IV. The patient weighs 93 kg. Available: milrinone 20 mg in 100 mL. At what rate in mL/hr will you set the pump?

    Show the answer
    1. Concentration: 20 mg × 1,000 ÷ 100 mL = 200 mcg/mL.
    2. 0.375 mcg/kg/min × 93 kg = 34.88 mcg/min.
    3. 34.88 mcg/min × 60 = 2,092.5 mcg/hr.
    4. 2,092.5 ÷ 200 mcg/mL = 10.463 mL/hr, rounded to 10.5 mL/hr.

    Answer: 10.5 mL/hr

  6. Order: dobutamine 5 mcg/kg/min IV. The patient weighs 80 kg. Available: dobutamine 250 mg in 250 mL. At what rate in mL/hr will you set the pump?

    Show the answer
    1. Concentration: 250 mg × 1,000 ÷ 250 mL = 1,000 mcg/mL.
    2. 5 mcg/kg/min × 80 kg = 400 mcg/min.
    3. 400 mcg/min × 60 = 24,000 mcg/hr.
    4. 24,000 ÷ 1,000 mcg/mL = 24 mL/hr, rounded to 24 mL/hr.

    Answer: 24 mL/hr

  7. Order: dopamine 8 mcg/kg/min IV. The patient weighs 98 kg. Available: dopamine 400 mg in 250 mL. At what rate in mL/hr will you set the pump?

    Show the answer
    1. Concentration: 400 mg × 1,000 ÷ 250 mL = 1,600 mcg/mL.
    2. 8 mcg/kg/min × 98 kg = 784 mcg/min.
    3. 784 mcg/min × 60 = 47,040 mcg/hr.
    4. 47,040 ÷ 1,600 mcg/mL = 29.4 mL/hr, rounded to 29.4 mL/hr.

    Answer: 29.4 mL/hr

  8. Order: esmolol 150 mcg/kg/min IV. The patient weighs 99 kg. Available: esmolol 2,500 mg in 250 mL. At what rate in mL/hr will you set the pump?

    Show the answer
    1. Concentration: 2,500 mg × 1,000 ÷ 250 mL = 10,000 mcg/mL.
    2. 150 mcg/kg/min × 99 kg = 14,850 mcg/min.
    3. 14,850 mcg/min × 60 = 891,000 mcg/hr.
    4. 891,000 ÷ 10,000 mcg/mL = 89.1 mL/hr, rounded to 89.1 mL/hr.

    Answer: 89.1 mL/hr

  9. Order: nitroglycerin 20 mcg/min IV. Available: nitroglycerin 50 mg in 250 mL. At what rate in mL/hr will you set the pump?

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    1. Concentration: 50 mg × 1,000 ÷ 250 mL = 200 mcg/mL.
    2. 20 mcg/min × 60 = 1,200 mcg/hr.
    3. 1,200 ÷ 200 mcg/mL = 6 mL/hr, rounded to 6 mL/hr.

    Answer: 6 mL/hr

  10. Order: dobutamine 5 mcg/kg/min IV. The patient weighs 56 kg. Available: dobutamine 250 mg in 250 mL. At what rate in mL/hr will you set the pump?

    Show the answer
    1. Concentration: 250 mg × 1,000 ÷ 250 mL = 1,000 mcg/mL.
    2. 5 mcg/kg/min × 56 kg = 280 mcg/min.
    3. 280 mcg/min × 60 = 16,800 mcg/hr.
    4. 16,800 ÷ 1,000 mcg/mL = 16.8 mL/hr, rounded to 16.8 mL/hr.

    Answer: 16.8 mL/hr

  11. Order: esmolol 50 mcg/kg/min IV. The patient weighs 66 kg. Available: esmolol 2,500 mg in 250 mL. At what rate in mL/hr will you set the pump?

    Show the answer
    1. Concentration: 2,500 mg × 1,000 ÷ 250 mL = 10,000 mcg/mL.
    2. 50 mcg/kg/min × 66 kg = 3,300 mcg/min.
    3. 3,300 mcg/min × 60 = 198,000 mcg/hr.
    4. 198,000 ÷ 10,000 mcg/mL = 19.8 mL/hr, rounded to 19.8 mL/hr.

    Answer: 19.8 mL/hr

  12. Order: esmolol 100 mcg/kg/min IV. The patient weighs 90 kg. Available: esmolol 2,500 mg in 250 mL. At what rate in mL/hr will you set the pump?

    Show the answer
    1. Concentration: 2,500 mg × 1,000 ÷ 250 mL = 10,000 mcg/mL.
    2. 100 mcg/kg/min × 90 kg = 9,000 mcg/min.
    3. 9,000 mcg/min × 60 = 540,000 mcg/hr.
    4. 540,000 ÷ 10,000 mcg/mL = 54 mL/hr, rounded to 54 mL/hr.

    Answer: 54 mL/hr

  13. Order: dopamine 3 mcg/kg/min IV. The patient weighs 62 kg. Available: dopamine 400 mg in 250 mL. At what rate in mL/hr will you set the pump?

    Show the answer
    1. Concentration: 400 mg × 1,000 ÷ 250 mL = 1,600 mcg/mL.
    2. 3 mcg/kg/min × 62 kg = 186 mcg/min.
    3. 186 mcg/min × 60 = 11,160 mcg/hr.
    4. 11,160 ÷ 1,600 mcg/mL = 6.975 mL/hr, rounded to 7 mL/hr.

    Answer: 7 mL/hr

  14. Order: milrinone 0.5 mcg/kg/min IV. The patient weighs 80 kg. Available: milrinone 20 mg in 100 mL. At what rate in mL/hr will you set the pump?

    Show the answer
    1. Concentration: 20 mg × 1,000 ÷ 100 mL = 200 mcg/mL.
    2. 0.5 mcg/kg/min × 80 kg = 40 mcg/min.
    3. 40 mcg/min × 60 = 2,400 mcg/hr.
    4. 2,400 ÷ 200 mcg/mL = 12 mL/hr, rounded to 12 mL/hr.

    Answer: 12 mL/hr

  15. Order: norepinephrine 10 mcg/min IV. Available: norepinephrine 4 mg in 250 mL. At what rate in mL/hr will you set the pump?

    Show the answer
    1. Concentration: 4 mg × 1,000 ÷ 250 mL = 16 mcg/mL.
    2. 10 mcg/min × 60 = 600 mcg/hr.
    3. 600 ÷ 16 mcg/mL = 37.5 mL/hr, rounded to 37.5 mL/hr.

    Answer: 37.5 mL/hr