Pharmacology for Nurses (9054.4)
| Available teaching periods | Delivery mode | Location |
|---|---|---|
| View teaching periods | ||
| EFTSL | Credit points | Faculty |
| 0.125 | 3 | Faculty Of Health |
| Discipline | Study level | HECS Bands |
| Discipline Of Nursing | Level 1 - Undergraduate Introductory Unit | Band 2 2021 (Commenced After 1 Jan 2021) Band 3 2021 (Commenced Before 1 Jan 2021) |
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:1. Discuss the fundamental concepts of pharmacology in the context of nursing caring;
2. Analyse the roles and responsibilities of the nurse in the administration of medications and dosage calculations;
3. Differentiate the appropriate use of pharmacotherapy across the lifespan; and
4. Demonstrate accuracy in medication calculations.
Graduate attributes
1. UC graduates are professional - display initiative and drive, and use their organisation skills to plan and manage their workload1. UC graduates are professional - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills
2. UC graduates are global citizens - adopt an informed and balanced approach across professional and international boundaries
2. UC graduates are global citizens - make creative use of technology in their learning and professional lives
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - be self-aware
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development
Prerequisites
9042 Anatomy and Physiology for Nurses.Corequisites
Enrolment in Bachelor of Nursing.Incompatible units
7429 Theoretical Foundations of Nursing.Equivalent units
None.Assumed knowledge
None.| Year | Location | Teaching period | Teaching start date | Delivery mode | Unit convener |
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Required texts
Required reading:
McKenna, L. & Lim, A. (2015). McKenna's Pharmacology for nursing and health professionals (2nd ed.). Sydney, Australia: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins.
Med+Safe Program (IntelliLearn) Med+Safe is a dose calculation program that is prescribed for use this unit and must be purchased from IntelliLearn's dedicated Med+Safe website: www.medsafe.com.au Click on the green: BUY MED+SAFE button and you will be directed to the online store. The fee is $80 for a 3 year license which allows unlimited use by 1 user during a three year term. This license will cover unlimited use of Med+Safe for this unit and all Inetgrating Nursing Concepts (1-6) units in the BN curriculum.
Recommended reading:
McKenna, L. & Mirkov, S. (2014). McKenna's Nursing Drug Handbook. Sydney, Australia: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins. Please note: any nursing drug reference text (AU/NZ version) is acceptable as this text will not be explicitly used in teaching this unit. Students find that purchasing a nursing drug reference book or online application is useful throughout the BN curriculum and as a new graduate.
Gatford, J., & Phillips, N. (2016). Nursing calculations. (9th ed.). Sydney: Churchill Livingstone, Elsevier Australia.
Texts are available for purchase from either the Co-op bookstore or online from the publisher and are also available on short term loan from the University Library.
Students can only access the "Med+Safe" dose calculation program by purchasing a user license from Intelli+Learn (www.medsafe.com.au). Med+Safe is required for completing the dose calculation assessments, as no paper based quizzes will be offered.
Submission of assessment items
Extensions & Late submissions
Students must submit the request for extenuating circumstances to the Unit Convener at the earliest possible opportunity, no later than 5 working days before the scheduled due date of the assessment.
For deferred examinations, applications (together with any supporting evidence and a declaration by the student affirming that they have no knowledge of the content of the initial examination) must be lodged within 3 days of the scheduled examinations.
Intra-semester deferred assessment applications must be sent directly to the Unit Convener. Final exam deferral applications must be sent directly to the Timetabling and Examinations Office.
Supplementary assessment
This unit does not meet the Supplementary Assessment criteria.
Moderation
All units undergo internal moderation procedures to review assessments, content, learning outcomes and structure. Marking standardisation techniques are used to ensure that different markers within the unit can achieve maximum agreement across grade bands using samples of randomly selected student work.
1. All assessment activities which result in grades of High Distinction (85% or more) will be marked by two different assessors.
2. All assessment activities which result in a Fail (NX) grade of (45-49%) will be blind marked by two different assessors.
3. All assessment activities which result in grades less than 45% will be marked by one assessor.
4. Any failed piece of assessment that leads to an overall fail grade for the unit will be marked by a second assessor.
Students must apply academic integrity in their learning and research activities at UC. This includes submitting authentic and original work for assessments and properly acknowledging any sources used.
Academic integrity involves the ethical, honest and responsible use, creation and sharing of information. It is critical to the quality of higher education. Our academic integrity values are honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility and courage.
UC students have to complete the Academic Integrity Module annually to learn about academic integrity and to understand the consequences of academic integrity breaches (or academic misconduct).
UC uses various strategies and systems, including detection software, to identify potential breaches of academic integrity. Suspected breaches may be investigated, and action can be taken when misconduct is found to have occurred.
Information is provided in the Academic Integrity Policy, Academic Integrity Procedure, and University of Canberra (Student Conduct) Rules 2023. For further advice, visit Study Skills.
Learner engagement
It is essential that students keep up with the weekly learning objectives, in particular the medication calculations. Falling behind early in the semester significantly reduces the chances of a successful outcome. Weekly readings and learning actvities are posted in advance on Canvas and students are expected to complete these prior to lecture and tutorials.
Tutorials are designed for students to utilise the content presented in lecture in a clinical context using case scenarios and medication charts. It is essential that students come to class pre-pared in order to get the most out of their learning experience.
Participation requirements
While tutorial attendance is not compulsory, the content covered in class is essential to mwwting the learning objectives for this unit. Tutorial content is strongly linked to the assessment iteams and will not be available online (Canvas).
Required IT skills
Students must have a reliable internet connection when attempting the online quizzes.
In-unit costs
None
Work placement, internships or practicums
None
Additional information
PALS: Peer Assisted Learning Sessions are offered for this unit in Semester 2. PAL Sessions are informal, one hour study sessions with group activities to assist students in gaining a better understanding of pharmacology. The sessions are run by students who have successfully completed the unit themselves and are available through the Student Resource Centre (SRC) in Bldg 6, Rooms B 33/35. The timetable for these sessions is available in the centre, as well as on the Study Help Moodle site (www.canberra.edu.au/studyhelp) and will be posted on the unit's Moodle site.
