Registered Nurses’ overall drug calculation test scores
ranged from 20% to 80%, with a median of 40% (Table 2).
Of the 44 Nurses, 89% obtained less than 60%, while 95%
obtained less than 80% (Table 3). For part 1 (solids, oral
liquids, injections) their scores ranged from 50% to 100%
with a median of 87% (Table 2); 55% obtained above 80%
and 95% above 60% (Table 3). Their scores for part 2 (drug
percentages and infusion rates) were worse; they ranged from
0% to 67% with a median of 6% (Table 2), with only 5%
obtaining above 60% and none above 80% (Table 3). Like
the nursing students, the Registered Nurses were statistically
significantly better at performing calculations for solids, oral
liquids and injections than drug percentages and infusion rate
calculations (mean 82Æ7% vs. 12Æ5%, t = 25Æ34, d.f. = 43,
P < 0Æ001).