Pharmacology and Pathophysiology in Nursing
28 hours + Blended
One Semester or equivalent
Hawthorn, Wantirna
Overview
This unit presents an overview of the pathophysiological and pharmacological foundations, principles and procedures of safe medication administration, as well as of adverse reactions related to medications, and the legal requirements for safe administration.
Requisites
Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Semester 1
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
03-March-2025
01-June-2025
01-June-2025
Last self-enrolment date
16-March-2025
Census date
31-March-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
24-April-2025
Results released date
08-July-2025
Semester 1
Location
Wantirna
Start and end dates
03-March-2025
01-June-2025
01-June-2025
Last self-enrolment date
16-March-2025
Census date
31-March-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
24-April-2025
Results released date
08-July-2025
Learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
- Discuss Australian drug legislation and Quality Use of Medicines (QUM), impacting on nurses’ work in regard to medication administration
- Describe the key pharmacokinetic processes and outline the major pharmacodynamic principles (e.g. agonist and antagonists, receptor-drug interactions)
- Utilise an evidence based clinical reasoning framework to develop a plan focusing on strength based, safe and effective medication management
- Identify and discuss the major pharmacology drug classes and related physiological effects
- Demonstrate competence in safe calculation of medications
Teaching methods
Hawthorn
| Type | Hours per week | Number of weeks | Total (number of hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online Directed Online Learning and Independent Learning | 1.50 | 8 weeks | 12 |
| On-campus Class | 2.00 | 8 weeks | 16 |
| On-campus Practical | 2.00 | 6 weeks | 12 |
| Specified Activities Various | 2.00 | 8 weeks | 16 |
| Unspecified Activities Independent Learning | 11.75 | 8 weeks | 94 |
| TOTAL | 150 |
Assessment
| Type | Task | Weighting | ULO's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assignment | Individual | 30% | 2,3,4 |
| Competency medication assessment | Individual | 20% | 1,2,4,5 |
| Examination | Individual | 40% | 1,2,3,4 |
| Medication calculation test | Individual | 10% | 1,5 |
| Assignment | Individual | 30% | 2,3,4 |
| Competency medication assessment | Individual | 20% | 1,2,4,5 |
| Examination | Individual | 40% | 1,2,3,4 |
| Medication calculation test | Individual | 10% | 1,5 |
Content
- Australian drug legislation and regulation
- QUM policy
- Drug nomenclature, types of drug preparations, drug classifications
- Pharmacodynamics & Pharmacokinetics – absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion.
- Adverse drug effects - allergy, intolerance, cumulative effect, idiosyncratic effect and interactions
- Factors affecting drug action – developmental, weight, gender, culture, psychological factors, pathology, environment, timing of administration
- Pharmacology management related to men’s and women’s health, perioperative nursing, cardiovascular, respiratory, endocrine, neurological, renal, GIT & musculoskeletal system
- Medication calculation
Study resources
Reading materials
A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.