Comparing the effects of lecture and work in small groups on nursing students' skills in calculating medication dosage

Performing medication dosage calculations is one of the responsibilities of the nurses failure in which may lead to crucial threats for patients. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of two methods of lecture and work in small groups on nursing students' skills in mathematical calculation of medication dosage. In an experimental study performed as two groups, pre and post-test, all nursing students in their second semester or more, studying in Shahid Sadouqi university of Yazd [n=85], were selected. They were divided randomly into two control and experiment groups and the mathematical skills, necessary for performing medication dosage calculation, were taught to them through lecture and work in small groups, respectively. Before the education and a week after that, the students' skills were examined using a medica-tion dosage calculation test. Most students had low skills in medication dosage calculation. The mean scores of medication dosage calculations in the two groups increased significantly after the education. The mean of the scores differences, before and after the education were 1.95 +/- 1.22 and 2.03 +/- 1.36 in lecture group and small group education, respectively, which showed no significant difference between the two groups. Both educational methods had positive and also similar effects on enhancing students' skills in performing medication calculations. It is recommended to employ both of them for training this skill

Evaluation of clinical skills of final year nursing students in critical care units

Clinical education in critical care units is very important and promotion of quality of clinical education can lead to higher qualification and professionalism of nursing students in this area of practice. So, this study was conducted to evaluate the clinical skills of nursing students in ICU, CCU and dialysis Units. This research was a cross sectional descriptive one and the samples of this research were 72 final year nursing students of Yazd Shaheed Sadoughi Nursing School. The data was collected by a demographic and checklist questionnaire about clinical skills in ICU, CCU, and dialysis unit. Analysis and descriptive statistics were used for the research goals. Results showed that clinical skills of nursing students in critical care units is ideal, but these skills in CCU are lower than ICU and dialysis unit. Results indicated that the levels of the clinical skills of nursing students were directly related to their examination scores and interest in nursing. Our findings indicate that special attention should be paid to clinical education in critical care units and selection of students in this field should be given special attention