Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Medication Calculation Skills of Graduating Nursing Students in Finland

  • Published:
Advances in Health Sciences Education Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The aim of this study was to describe the basic mathematical proficiency and the medication calculation skills of graduating nursing students in Finland. A further concern was with how students experienced the teaching of medication calculation. We wanted to find out whether these experiences were associated with various background factors and the students' medication calculation skills.

In spring 1997 the population of graduating nursing students in Finland numbered around 1280; the figure for the whole year was 2640. A convenience sample of 204 students completed a questionnaire specially developed for this study. The instrument included structured questions, statements and a medication calculation test. The response rate was 88%. Data analysis was based on descriptive statistics.

The students found it hard to learn mathematics and medication calculation skills. Those who evaluated their mathematical and medication calculation skills as sufficient successfully solved the problems included in the questionnaire. It was felt that the introductory course on medication calculation was uninteresting and poorly organised. Overall the students' mathematical skills were inadequate. One-fifth of the students failed to pass the medication calculation test. A positive correlation was shown between the student's grade in mathematics (Sixth Form College) and her skills in medication calculation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adams, A. & Duffield, C. (1991). The value of drills in developing and maintaining numeracy skills in an undergraduate nursing programme. Nurse Education Today 11(3): 213-219.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ammattikorkeakoulu AMKOTA-tietokanta (1999). http://www.csc.fi./amkota/29.6.1999

  • Arndt, M. (1994). Nurses' medication errors. Journal of Advanced Nursing 19(3): 519-526.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bath, J.B. & Blais, K. (1993). Learning style as a predictor of drug dosage calculation ability. Nurse Educator 18(1): 33-36.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bayne, T. & Bindler, R. (1988). Medication calculation skills of registered nurses. The Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing 19(6): 258-262.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bindler, R. & Bayne, T. (1991). Medication calculation ability of registered nurses. IMAGE: Journal of Nursing Scholarship 23(4): 221-224.

    Google Scholar 

  • Black, R.L. (1992). Pharmacology instruction: A game approach for students. Nurse Educator 17(2): 7-8.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blais, K. & Bath, J.B. (1992). Drug calculation errors of baccalaureate nursing students. Nurse Educator 17(1): 12-15.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bliss-Holtz, J. (1994). Discriminating types of medication errors in nursing practice. Nursing Research 43(6): 373-375.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bourque, L.B. & Clark, V.A. (1992). Processing Data: The Survey Example. California: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burns, N. & Grove, S.K. (1993). The Practice of Nursing Research. Conduct, Critique and Utilization, 2nd edn. Philadelphia: W B Saunders Company.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cartwright, M. (1996). Numeracy needs of the beginning registered nurse. Nurse Education Today 16(2): 137-143.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cooper, M.C. (1995). Can zero defects philosophy be applied to drug errors. Journal of Advanced Nursing 21(3): 487-491.

    Google Scholar 

  • Courtenay, M. (1991). A study of the teaching and learning of the biological sciences in nurse education. Journal of Advanced Nursing 16(9): 1110-1116.

    Google Scholar 

  • Craig, G.P. & Sellers, S.C. (1995). The effects of dimensional analysis on the medication dosage calculation abilities of nursing students. Nurse Educator 20(3): 14-18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Flynn, E.R., Wolf, Z.R., McGoldrick, T.B., Jablonski, R.A.S., Dean, L.M. & McKee, E.P. (1996). Effect of three teaching methods on a nursing staff's knowledge of medication error risk reduction strategies. Journal of Nursing Staff Development 12(1): 19-26.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gee, P.R., Peterson, G.M., Martin, J.L.S. & Reeve, J.F. (1998). Development and evaluation of a computer-assisted instruction package in clinical pharmacology for nursing students. Computers in Nursing 16(1): 37-44.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gladstone, J. (1995). Drug administration errors: A study into the factors underlying the occurrence and reporting of drug errors in a district general hospital. Journal of Advanced Nursing 22(4): 628-637.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kapborg, I.D. (1995). An evaluation of Swedish nurse students' calculating ability in relation to their earlier educational background. Nurse Education Today 15(1): 69-74.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leino-Kilpi, H. & Tuomaala, U. (1989). Research ethics and nursing science: An empirical example. Journal of Advanced Nursing 14(6): 451-458.

    Google Scholar 

  • Litwin, M. (1995). How to Measure Survey Reliability and Validity. California: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Navarro, J.D.S., Alvarez, J.A.T., Casado, M.P.S. & Polo, M.P. (1993). A Dynamo application of microcomputer-based simulation in health sciences teaching. International Journal of Nursing Studies 30(5): 425-436.

    Google Scholar 

  • Northrop, C.C. (1992). A domino pharmacology review game. Nurse Educator 17(5): 3.

    Google Scholar 

  • Opetushallitus (1991). Sairaanhoitaja, kätilö ja terveydenhoitaja, opetussuunnitelman perusteet 1991. Opetushallituksen julkaisusarjat. Opetussuunnitelma 1/1991. Helsinki: Valtion painatuskeskus.

    Google Scholar 

  • Opetushallitus (1996). Sosiaali-ja terveysala. Opistoaste. Ammatillisen koulutuksen opetussuunnitelman perusteet. Opetushallitus. Helsinki: Hakapaino Oy.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pharmaca Fennica (1996). Rauma: Kirjapaino Oy West Point.

  • Segatore, M., Edge, D.S. & Miller, M. (1993). Posology errors by sophomore nursing students. Nursing Outlook 41(4): 160-165.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shockley, J.S., McGurn,W.C., Gunning, C., Graveley, E. & Tillotson, D. (1989). Effects of calculator use on arithmetic and conceptual skills of nursing students. Journal of Nursing Education 28(9): 402-405.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith Bilancett, S. (1992). Pharmacology software programs. Nurse Educator 17(6): 5-10.

    Google Scholar 

  • Solante, S. & Leino-Kilpi, H. (1998). Mitä koulutus tuotti? Viisi vuotta työelämässä olleiden hoitotyöntekijöiden näkemyksiä koulutuksen tuottamista valmiuksista. Hoitotiede 10(2): 89-96.

    Google Scholar 

  • Veräjänkorva, O. & Leino-Kilpi, H. (1998). Lääkehoito ja sen opetus. Empiirinen tutkimus hoitoopin opettajien näkemyksistä valmiuksistaan ja toteutuneesta opetuksesta. Turun yliopisto. Hoitotieteen laitoksen julkaisuja. Tutkimuksia ja raportteja A:23/1998. English abstract. Turku.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Turku, Majoitusmestarinkatu 1 G 55, FIN – 20360, Turku, Finland

    Heidi Grandell-Niemi, Maija Hupli & Helena Leino-Kilpi

Authors
  1. Heidi Grandell-Niemi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Maija Hupli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Helena Leino-Kilpi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Grandell-Niemi, H., Hupli, M. & Leino-Kilpi, H. Medication Calculation Skills of Graduating Nursing Students in Finland. Adv Health Sci Educ Theory Pract 6, 15–24 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009842501113

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009842501113

Search

Navigation