What it means
The standard unit for weighing clients in health care. Many drug doses are worked out per kilogram of body weight (mg/kg), especially for children, and IV fluid needs and urine output goals can be too. To change pounds to kilograms, divide by 2.2.
For the nurse
Record weights in kilograms only. Mixing up pounds and kilograms is a common cause of dosing errors, because a weight in pounds is more than twice the number in kilograms. ISMP recommends using metric units and avoiding the # sign for pounds.
In a chart
"Weight 68 kg; enoxaparin 1 mg/kg = 68 mg SUBQ every 12 hours."
At a glance
| Spanish | kilogramo |
|---|---|
| Also written | kilogram, kilograms, kgs |