Perceptions of nursing students and faculty of factors influencing students' performance on drug calculations.

摘要

The purpose of this qualitative, descriptive grounded theory study was to describe factors nursing students and faculty perceive to influence students' performance on drug calculations. Junior nursing students (n=32) enrolled in a Parent/Newborn Nursing or a Nursing of Children course and their faculty (n=2) were asked about their perceptions regarding drug dosage calculation influences. Nursing students completed a semi-structured questionnaire, with the option to participate in a focus group, to share their experiences with drug calculations. Faculty participated in a semi-structured interview. Students' questionnaire and focus group data, and faculty members' interview data, were processed through constant comparative analysis. Results revealed basic math skills, conceptual skills, math anxiety, and resources are factors influencing students' performance on drug calculations. An understanding of how these factors affect students' performance could help faculty assist students to achieve accurate drug calculations while providing safe patient care. Implications for nursing practice and research were presented.