Author(s):
Shubhada N. Ponkshe, Ashwini V. Lande
Email(s):
snponkshe@gmail.com
DOI:
10.52711/2454-2660.2026.00022 
Address:
Shubhada N. Ponkshe1*, Ashwini V. Lande2
¹Vice Principal, HOD of Nursing Foundation Department (Retd), Nursing Foundation Department, Maharshi Karve Stree Shikshan Samstha’s Smt. Bakul Tambat Institute of Nursing Education, Pune, Maharashtra, India.
²Nursing Foundation Department, Maharshi Karve Stree Shikshan Samstha’s, Smt. Bakul Tambat Institute of Nursing Education, Pune, Maharashtra, India.
*Corresponding Author
Published In:
Volume - 14,
Issue - 2,
Year - 2026
ABSTRACT:
Background and objective: Drug administration is a critical component of nursing care, and accuracy depends on competence in basic mathematics. This study assessed the relationship between self-rated confidence and actual performance in drug calculations among first-year B.Sc. Nursing students using a criterion-referenced approach. Materials and methods: A one-group post-test correlational design was adopted with 47 consenting students. Teaching sessions on drug calculations were followed by a teacher-made 25-mark test and a 5-point confidence scale. Passing criteria were set at =90% performance and =4/5 confidence. Students not meeting these thresholds received 8 hours of remedial teaching and retesting. Data were analysed using IBM SPSS version 20 with descriptive statistics and Spearman’s rho correlation (a = 0.05). Results: Baseline scores ranged from 11 to 22 (M = 17.34, SD = 2.91), with a mean confidence of 2.51(SD = 0.83). Confidence correlated significantly with performance at baseline (? = 0.525, p<0.01) and post-teaching (? = 0.868, p<0.01), but not post-remediation (? = 0.348, p = 0.113). Pre-university mathematics background showed no significant association with baseline performance (? = 0.051, p = 0.731). At Post-test 1, 25 students (53.2%) achieved the criteria, while 22(46.8%) required remediation. By Post-test 2, all students (100%) met the benchmark. Conclusion: Confidence was a useful predictor of performance when variability existed, but less so once all students attained high scores. Criterion-referenced testing with structured remediation effectively ensured competence and confidence before clinical placement, thereby strengthening patient safety.
Cite this article:
Shubhada N. Ponkshe, Ashwini V. Lande. Evaluating Nursing Students’ Confidence and Accuracy in Drug Calculations to Enhance Medication Safety. International Journal of Nursing Education and Research. 2026;14(2):111-5. doi: 10.52711/2454-2660.2026.00022
Cite(Electronic):
Shubhada N. Ponkshe, Ashwini V. Lande. Evaluating Nursing Students’ Confidence and Accuracy in Drug Calculations to Enhance Medication Safety. International Journal of Nursing Education and Research. 2026;14(2):111-5. doi: 10.52711/2454-2660.2026.00022 Available on: https://ijneronline.com/AbstractView.aspx?PID=2026-14-2-5
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