Death of a Simulated Patient: An Innovative Approach to Teaching Dosage Calculations

Dosage calculation errors impact patient safety. A creative teaching strategy for undergraduate nursing students in the nursing skills laboratory incorporated a simulated patient who had died. The patient received three incorrect medication dosages. The objective of the learning activity was for students to calculate the medication dosages and determine which error most likely resulted in the patient's death. Students were highly engaged in this activity. Faculty observed student learning in the cognitive and affective domains. This innovative teaching strategy encouraged students to evaluate dosage calculations in a safe learning environment.