Applications of Clinical Pharmacology

On campus

In addition to the subject contact hours, students are expected to devote approximately 6 hours a week to this subject. Total time commitment 72-120 hours.

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It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's courses. Students who feel their disability will impact on meeting this requirement are encouraged to discuss this matter with the Course Coordinator and the Disability Liaison Unit.

This subject has been primarily developed to address the endorsement requirements for nurses seeking to apply for nurse practitioner status through the Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council.

The Pharmacology for Health Professionals subject, which is also required for nurse practitioner endorsement, predominantly focuses on the mechanisms of action of medications.

This subject extends students' knowledge of social, political and ethical principles of medication management, and allows the student to explore how these principles are applied in the advanced practice setting. The concepts of pain management, adverse drug reactions and medication use across the lifespan will be considered. Students will individualise the use of the clinical decision making process as the framework for gathering and organising medication information, planning, prescribing, administering, documenting and evaluation to suit their own practice needs. Students will extend their knowledge of the learning and teaching strategies for patient education and the government policies that are relevant to nurse prescribing. Commonwealth and State laws affecting the control of medication will also be applied to the advanced practice setting. Students will also address the socio-cultural and ethical issues that affect the relationship between the nurse practitioner and the patient, and will examine the style and required particulars for written prescriptions. Equipped with this knowledge, students will be expected to critically review the application of clinical pharmacology to their specific area of advanced practice.

Students who are taking this subject as an elective

• 2 hour written examination (50%) - Week 8
• 3,000 word written assignment (50%) - Week 12

Nurse Practitioner students

• 2 hour written examination (50%) - Week 8
• Four medication management plans (30%) comprising 500 words each (2 medication management plans submitted in Week 6 and 2 medication management plans submitted in Week 12)
• Formal assessment of a patient/client consultation (20%) - Week 12

There are no prescribed texts for this subject.

A list of recommended readings will be provided upon commencement.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

On completion of this subject students will be able to:

• Demonstrate comprehensive written and oral skills necessary to critically analyse the conceptual underpinnings of medication management in the advanced practice setting.
• Critically appraise and challenge medication management according to principles of clinical decision making;
• Demonstrate applied knowledge of Commonwealth and State laws as a means for evidence based practice and health policy;
• Use well developed problem solving and critical thinking skills in medication management for paediatric and geriatric populations;
• Critically evaluate medication orders for patients in the advanced practice setting;
• Demonstrate knowledge of applied pharmacology as a vehicle for research, evidence based practice and policy development in the advanced practice setting.