Posology: the battle against dosage calculation errors

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Health Sciences
• Mathematics in Healthcare

Background:

• Math and dosage calculation skills are critical for safe nursing practice.
• Deficiencies in these areas pose a risk to patient safety.
• Identifying the scope of the problem in nursing education is essential.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the prevalence of math and dosage calculation deficiencies among nursing students.
• To inform nurse educators about potential issues with graduating students' quantitative skills.
• To recommend strategies for resolving identified math deficiencies in nursing programs.

Main Methods:

• Surveyed 223 baccalaureate, associate, and diploma nursing programs across the United States.
• Analyzed data to identify trends in math and dosage calculation competency.
• Focused on quantitative skills essential for safe medication administration.

Main Results:

• A significant number of nursing programs may be graduating students with math deficiencies.
• These deficiencies can impact the ability to perform accurate dosage calculations.
• The study identified a need for targeted interventions within nursing curricula.

Conclusions:

• Nurse educators must be aware of potential math deficiencies in their students.
• Implementing measures to improve quantitative skills is crucial for patient safety.
• Curriculum review and enhanced support are recommended to address these educational gaps.