Nursing Students’ Views on Numeracy: An Exploratory Cross-Sectional Study in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Medication administration in healthcare settings demands strong mathematical skills from
healthcare practitioners. This study investigated nursing students’ perceptions of mathematical calculations in
Nursing at a Saudi university in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was
conducted at the College of Nursing in a Saudi University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, between June and
July 2025. The data were collected using a self-administered paper-based questionnaire of 16 items and analyzed
using the statistical package for the social science (SPSS) version 26. Results: Among the students, majority
were male, 74% (n = 182) belonged to the baccalaureate nursing program as compared to 20.3% (n = 50) in the
Masters’ nursing program. Nearly 58% of participants claimed that they studied mathematics during their nursing
course (n = 141). While 56.9% (n = 140) perceived that their ability to perform mathematical calculations related
to drug dosing would be important to them as future practicing nurses. One-third of the students were perceived
(n = 83) to have good skills, while only 23.6% (n = 58) had excellent mathematical skills. A significant association
was found between participant characteristics, such as age (P < 0.0001), educational level (P < 0.0001), degree
(P < 0.0001), and the rating of self-reported perceptions of mathematical ability (P < 0.0001). Conclusion: This
study reveals that nursing students perceive mathematical skills positively and advocate for increased emphasis
on medical calculations in their degree course. Furthermore, our findings underscore the importance of enhancing
nursing students’ understanding of mathematical skills and their critical role in healthcare.