Numeracy for nursing, report of a pilot study to compare outcomes of two practical simulation tools - An online medication dosage assessment and practical assessment in the style of objective structured clinical examination

TY - JOUR

T1 - Numeracy for nursing, report of a pilot study to compare outcomes of two practical simulation tools - An online medication dosage assessment and practical assessment in the style of objective structured clinical examination

AU - Hutton, Meriel

AU - Coben, Diana

AU - Hall, Carol

AU - Rowe, David

AU - Sabin, Mike

AU - Weeks, Keith

AU - Woolley, Norman

PY - 2010/10

Y1 - 2010/10

N2 - This pilot study compares the results of medications calculations carried out by student nurses using an online assessment tool with the results of the same calculations carried out within simulated practice. The numeracy project, of which this is part, is funded by NHS Education for Scotland (NES). Objective: To test the efficacy of a realistic computer-based assessment of pre-registration nurses' medication calculations skills by comparing outcomes from using an online assessment tool with a practical assessment tool in the style of an Objective Structured Clinical Examination OSCE. Both assessment methods used medicine calculations usually presenting authentically in the practice setting. Design: A multi-stage quantitative study using a cross-over design. Sample: Fifty early 3rd year students on the adult branch of a pre-registration nursing programme at a large school of nursing in England. Results: Results showed that, for assessing accuracy of calculation, there was a high level of congruence between the two methods. Conclusions: Computerised assessment of medications calculations using this particular platform is likely to closely mirror assessment of medication calculations done in a practical setting. As such it could be a useful adjunct to current assessment methods. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

AB - This pilot study compares the results of medications calculations carried out by student nurses using an online assessment tool with the results of the same calculations carried out within simulated practice. The numeracy project, of which this is part, is funded by NHS Education for Scotland (NES). Objective: To test the efficacy of a realistic computer-based assessment of pre-registration nurses' medication calculations skills by comparing outcomes from using an online assessment tool with a practical assessment tool in the style of an Objective Structured Clinical Examination OSCE. Both assessment methods used medicine calculations usually presenting authentically in the practice setting. Design: A multi-stage quantitative study using a cross-over design. Sample: Fifty early 3rd year students on the adult branch of a pre-registration nursing programme at a large school of nursing in England. Results: Results showed that, for assessing accuracy of calculation, there was a high level of congruence between the two methods. Conclusions: Computerised assessment of medications calculations using this particular platform is likely to closely mirror assessment of medication calculations done in a practical setting. As such it could be a useful adjunct to current assessment methods. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

U2 - 10.1016/j.nedt.2009.12.009

DO - 10.1016/j.nedt.2009.12.009

M3 - Article

VL - 30

SP - 608

EP - 614

JO - Nurse Education Today

JF - Nurse Education Today

IS - 7

ER -