title: Medication calculation skills of the medical-surgical nurse.
abstract: Medication administration is one of the most time-consuming aspects of nursing practice. Expertise in medication calculation and administration is essential to the treatment of all patients; however, many nurses experience difficulty when calculating medications. In this study, 56.4% of nurses could not calculate medications correctly in 90% of the problems, suggesting the need for regular self-testing of medication calculation skills. Continuing education programs implemented for identified medication calculation errors influences nursing practice and patient care outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Columbia Suburban Hospital, Louisville, KY, USA.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Ashby
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004358:Drug Therapy / Q000451:nursing*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008433:Mathematics; D008875:Middle Aged; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education*; D013527:Perioperative Nursing / Q000193:education*