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

Prerequisites
NUR10005 Foundations of Nursing
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
09-February-2026
14-June-2026
Last self-enrolment date
22-February-2026
Census date
10-March-2026
Last withdraw without fail date
14-April-2026
Results released date
07-July-2026
Semester 1
Location
Wantirna
Start and end dates
09-February-2026
14-June-2026
Last self-enrolment date
22-February-2026
Census date
10-March-2026
Last withdraw without fail date
14-April-2026
Results released date
07-July-2026

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 that reflect the pathophysiological changes of pharmacotherapy (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 pathophysiology
  • Perform correct calculations and safe administration of medications

Teaching methods

All Applicable Locations

Activity Type Activity Total Hours Number of Weeks Hours Per Week Venue Type and Activity Detail
Online Directed Online Learning and Independent Learning 8 8 weeks 1  
On-campus Class 16 8 weeks 2 Tutorial
On-campus Practical 12 6 weeks 2 Clinical Learning Environment (CLE)
Specified Activities Various 16 8 weeks 2 Discussion boards, Readings, Group work
Unspecified Activities Independent Learning 90 8 weeks 11.25 Independent study, Assignment preparation, Revision
Online Lecture 8 8 weeks 1 Asynchronous lecture
Total Hours: 150 Total Hours (per week): 19.25  

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
Assignment Individual  30%  2,3,4 
Examination Individual  40%  1,2,3,4 
Medical Calculation Test Individual  Pass/Fail 1,5 
Competency Medication Assessment Individual  30%  1,2,4,5 

Hurdle

To pass this unit students must gain 100% in the Medication calculation test and successfully complete the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE)

Content

  • Australian drug legislation and regulation
  • Quality Use of Medicines (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
  • Nursing responsibility in the pharmacological management of a person’s health inclusive of, perioperative nursing, and cardiovascular, respiratory, endocrine, neurological, renal, gastro-intestinal & musculoskeletal systems
  • Medication calculation

Graduate Attributes:

  • Graduate Attribute – Communication Skills: Verbal communication
  • Graduate Attribute – Communication Skills: Communicating using different media
  • Graduate Attribute – Teamwork Skills: Collaboration and negotiation
  • Graduate Attribute – Teamwork Skills: Teamwork roles and processes
  • Graduate Attribute – Digital Literacies: Technical lite

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.