Use of dimensional analysis to reduce medication errors.
The purpose of this pilot study was to determine whether using dimensional analysis as the method of mathematical computation could reduce nursing medication calculation errors. The sample for this study consisted of second-year baccalaureate nursing students in a required clinical skills course. Students in the control group were taught medication calculations using the traditional math method during one semester, whereas students in the experimental group were taught the same material using dimensional analysis during the next semester. Analysis of the collected data from a medication dosage calculation examination revealed the dimensional analysis group scored with greater accuracy than the traditional math group.
Adelphi University, School of Nursing, Garden City, New York 11530-0701, USA. greenfi2@adelphi.edu
Sue
S
Greenfield
Barbara
B
Whelan
Elizabeth
E
Cohn
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards; D003479:Curriculum; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004358:Drug Therapy / Q000451:nursing; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008433:Mathematics; D008508:Medication Errors / Q000451:nursing / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009518:New York; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011340:Problem Solving; D017751:Safety Management; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013850:Thinking