Determination of the Personal Values of the University Students in Different Departments.

This research aims to examine the personal values of the first-year university students studying in different departments. This is a descriptive cross-sectional survey study. Research population is composed of first-grade students approving to participate and studying in the Nursing Department in the School of Health, Biology Department in the Faculty of Science and Letters and the Department of Early Childhood Education in the Faculty of Education of Uludag University. "Student Information Form" and "Schwartz Values Inventory" were used for data collection. When the values inventory is examined, it is seen that the point averages of the students are the highest in safety sub-dimension and the lowest in power sub-dimension. Power, achievement, and hedonism and tradition point averages of the students in the Nursing Department of Health Sciences are higher than those of the students in the departments of science and educational sciences, and the difference in between was found out to be statistically significant. Point average in the achievement sub-dimension was found out to be high among male students (p < 0.01). It was found out that the point averages of female students for hedonism, universalism, benevolence and conformity are higher than those of male students, while the achievement point averages were higher among male students.

Evaluation of students' knowledge about paediatric dosage calculations.

Medication errors are common and may jeopardize the patient safety. As paediatric dosages are calculated based on the child's age and weight, risk of error in dosage calculations is increasing. In paediatric patients, overdose drug prescribed regardless of the child's weight, age and clinical picture may lead to excessive toxicity and mortalities while low doses may delay the treatment. This study was carried out to evaluate the knowledge of nursing students about paediatric dosage calculations. This research, which is of retrospective type, covers a population consisting of all the 3rd grade students at the bachelor's degree in May, 2015 (148 students). Drug dose calculation questions in exam papers including 3 open ended questions on dosage calculation problems, addressing 5 variables were distributed to the students and their responses were evaluated by the researchers. In the evaluation of the data, figures and percentage distribution were calculated and Spearman correlation analysis was applied. Exam question on the dosage calculation based on child's age, which is the most common method in paediatrics, and which ensures right dosages and drug dilution was answered correctly by 87.1% of the students while 9.5% answered it wrong and 3.4% left it blank. 69.6% of the students was successful in finding the safe dose range, and 79.1% in finding the right ratio/proportion. 65.5% of the answers with regard to Ml/dzy calculation were correct. Moreover, student's four operation skills were assessed and 68.2% of the students were determined to have found the correct answer. When the relation among the questions on medication was examined, a significant relation (correlation) was determined between them. It is seen that in dosage calculations, the students failed mostly in calculating ml/dzy (decimal). This result means that as dosage calculations are based on decimal values, calculations may be ten times erroneous when the decimal point is placed wrongly. Moreover, it is also seen that students lack maths knowledge in respect of four operations and calculating safe dose range. Relations among the medications suggest that a student wrongly calculating a dosage may also make other errors. Additional courses, exercises or utilisation of different teaching techniques may be suggested to eliminate the deficiencies in terms of basic maths knowledge, problem solving skills and correct dosage calculation of the students.