Start with this short video, then scroll down for the full guide.
Why This Matters for Nursing: Medication dosing is often weight-based (mg/kg). Converting between pounds and kilograms is a daily task. A dosing error due to wrong weight conversion can be life-threatening.
| Conversion | Factor |
|---|---|
| 1 kilogram (kg) = | 1,000 grams (g) |
| 1 gram = | 1,000 milligrams (mg) |
| 1 milligram = | 1,000 micrograms (mcg) |
| Conversion | Factor |
|---|---|
| 1 pound (lb) = | 16 ounces (oz) |
| 1 ton = | 2,000 pounds |
| Conversion | Factor |
|---|---|
| 1 kg = | 2.2 pounds (lb) |
| 1 lb = | 0.454 kg |
| 1 oz ≈ | 28.35 g |
"2.2 pounds = 1 kg" — THE most important conversion in nursing!
Quick mental math: - To convert kg → lb: multiply by 2.2 (or double and add 10%) - To convert lb → kg: divide by 2.2 (or divide by 2 and subtract 10%)
Example: 70 kg ≈ 70 × 2 + 7 = 154 lbs ✓
Problem: A patient weighs 80 kg. What's their weight in pounds?
Step 1 — Identify the conversion. 1 kg = 2.2 lbs. Going from kg to lbs → multiply by 2.2.
Step 2 — Multiply. 80 × 2.2 = 176 lbs.
Answer: 176 pounds
💡 Quick mental check: 2.2 is roughly 2, so 80 kg × 2 = 160 lbs. Our answer of 176 is a bit more (because 2.2 > 2). Makes sense!
The worked examples and practice problems are the part that actually prepares you for the TEAS.
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