Enhancing Dosage Calculation Accuracy and Student Confidence Through Simulation: A Quality Improvement Project
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Date
2025-05
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The Ohio State University
Abstract
Medication dosage calculation errors are a significant issue in healthcare, leading to patient harm, extended hospital stays, and financial consequences. Nursing students often struggle with dosage calculations due to poor math skills, lack of confidence, and anxiety, particularly in high stakes testing environments. A systematic literature search revealed simulation as an effective teaching/learning strategy that aids students in improving skills, accuracy, and confidence. Using the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) method, this quality improvement project aimed to implement a content review session followed by two low-fidelity simulations to determine the impact of simulation on student accuracy and confidence in medication dosage calculations and satisfaction with the simulation learning activity. The evidence-based quality improvement project was implemented at a Midwest, private, Catholic-affiliated university with a traditional and accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. Pre- and post-intervention data from eight participants was collected through confidence surveys, dosage calculation examinations, and post-intervention confidence and satisfaction of simulation as a learning modality with the National League for Nursing Student Satisfaction and Self-Confidence in Learning Scaleď. This project was cost-effective and required minimal low-fidelity simulation equipment, making it replicable at any level of nursing school. In conclusion, the implementation of simulation as a low-stakes active learning strategy significantly enhanced students' confidence and precision in medication dosage calculations.
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Keywords
dosage, calculation, simulation, medication, accuracy, confidence