This unit introduces nursing students to the fundamental principles of pharmacology, emphasising the safe and effective use of medications in healthcare settings. It covers essential pharmacotherapeutic concepts such as pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, enabling students to understand how medications interact with the body and how the body affects drugs across the life span. This will include medication name, class, mechanism of action, indications, common and relevant side effects, precautions and contraindications of various medication groups commonly utilised in nursing practice. The unit highlights the significance of understanding pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, highlighting their implications for nursing practice. The unit also addresses the legal considerations and responsibilities associated with medication administration, equipping students with knowledge of the ethical and legal frameworks governing nursing practice.
On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
A VBlog and script will assess students’ knowledge of pharmacological principles, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. In the second assessment, students will be given a case study to assess their knowledge of how nursing ethical and legal frameworks relate to medication errors and adverse drug reactions. In the final assessment students will undertake an invigilated assessment focusing on knowledge of how drugs affect the body's various systems across the lifespan. This assessment for VU Online students will be monitored online using remote exam proctoring tools.
This unit is studied as part of the following course(s):