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Pediatric Nurse Performance on a Medication Dosage Calculation Assessment Tool
Debra Ridling1, Pamela Christensen1, Leslie R Harder1
1Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, WA.
Journal of Pediatric Nursing
|December 3, 2015
Summary
Pediatric nurses
Area of Science:
- Nursing
- Pediatric Nursing
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Accurate medication dosage calculations are critical for pediatric patient safety.
- Pediatric doses are often weight-based and derived from adult formulations, requiring precise calculations.
- Nurses' competence in medication dosage calculations directly impacts patient outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate Registered Nurses' (RNs) performance on a medication dosage calculation assessment.
- To compare nurse performance based on work unit, years of experience, and certification status.
- To identify factors influencing accuracy in pediatric medication calculations.
Main Methods:
- Secondary analysis of data from 851 Registered Nurses (RNs).
- Multiple regression modeling was employed to analyze the impact of work unit, certification, and experience on assessment scores.
- The study utilized a standardized medication dosage calculation assessment tool.
Main Results:
- The average score on the assessment tool was 92.4%, with a range of 47-100%.
- Both the nurses' work unit and the interaction between certification status and years of experience significantly affected calculation assessment scores.
- This suggests a complex interplay of factors influencing calculation accuracy.
Conclusions:
- Work unit and the combination of certification and experience are significant predictors of medication dosage calculation accuracy in nurses.
- Targeted education and support may be beneficial for nurses in specific work units or with varying experience levels.
- Ensuring high competency in medication calculations is essential for safe pediatric care.
Keywords:
Dose calculationMedication calculationMedication competencyMedication errorMedication safetyMore Related Videos
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