The relationship between a calculation test given in nursing orientation and medication errors

Abstract

This article presents a descriptive study that investigates the relationship between pass/fail scores on a medication test given to registered nurses in orientation and medication errors made on nursing units. Medication errors made during a 3-year period of time were reviewed to determine number of errors made and the nurses who made the errors. Pass/fail scores from the medication test given in orientation were checked to see whether the nurses who made the errors had passed or failed the test. Chi square, t test, and multiple regression analysis were used to evaluate the data. Results showed that nurses who failed the medication test were more likely to make medication errors than nurses who had passed the medication test.