Skills and dosage calculation pilot study: Maybe not in another dimension?

Abstract

Background: This research investigated undergraduate senior nursing student success on skills and dosage calculation testing when participating in a return-to-campus re-demonstration of skills day. The re-competency day occurred after students were on summer break for 3 months and served as the gateway to higher level clinical rotations (pediatrics, adult critical care, and obstetrics). Methods: This correlational pilot study utilized Pearson's correlation component (r) to understand if a relationship exists between success with dosage calculations and nursing clinical laboratory skills in undergraduate senior nursing students participating in a return-to-campus re-competency skills day. Results: The study demonstrated that a statistically significant, large, positive correlation existed between passing clinical skills exam and passing the dosage calculation exam, r = 0.53, n = 38, p = 0.001. Conclusion: There is a relationship between nursing students’ success with dosage calculations and nursing skills when re-competency tested following a summer break. Knowing this allows for nursing educators to intervene earlier if a student appears to demonstrate weakness in skills or dosage calculations.