NS5910 - Principles of Pharmacotherapeutics for Nurse Practitioners

Credit points:	03
Year:	2007
Student Contribution Band:	National Priority Band
Administered by:	School of Nursing, Midwifery & Nutrition

Available to students enrolled in Master of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner)

This subject will build on existing knowledge of pharmacology in order for Nurse Practitioners to acquire knowledge and skill associated with the safe prescribing of medications. It will apply the mechanisms of pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics to the practical and clinical effects of medications prescribed by Nurse Practitioners. Using a systems approach, it will investigate commonly prescribed medications used across a range of practice specialties. This subject will develop clinical expertise in the use of pharmacotherapeutic interventions and enable students to develop problem solving and critical thinking skills regarding medication management.

Learning Outcomes

• Students will develop knowledge and skills required by Nurse Practitioners associated with the safe prescribing of medications.

Graduate Qualities

• The ability to adapt knowledge to new situations;
• The ability to define and to solve problems in at least one discipline area;
• The ability to think critically, to analyse and evaluate claims, evidence and arguments, and to reason and deploy evidence clearly and logically;
• The ability to deploy critically evaluated information to practical ends;
• The acquisition of coherent and disciplined sets of skills, knowledge, values and professional ethics from at least one discipline area;
• The ability to reflect on and evaluate learning, and to learn independently in a self directed manner;
• The ability to manage future career and personal development;
• The ability to read complex and demanding texts accurately, critically and insightfully;
• The ability to speak and write clearly, coherently and creatively;
• The ability to generate, calculate, interpret and communicate numerical information in ways appropriate to a given discipline or discourse;
• The ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences;
• The ability to lead, manage and contribute effectively to teams;
• The ability to work with people of different gender, age, ethnicity, culture, religion and political persuasion;
• The ability to work individually and independently;
• The ability to select and use appropriate tools and technologies;
• The ability to use online technologies effectively and ethically.

Availabilities
Townsville, Limited, Study Period 2
Census Date 31-Aug-2007
Face to face teaching (Flexible delivery requiring some on-campus attendance)
Coordinator:	Mr John Smithson
Lecturers:	Ms Diane Hutchinson, jc159085.
Contact hours:	24 hours - 3 Days compulsory residental. Total workload for this subject is 150 hours. This indicates a workload of about 10 hours per week. This time is divided between attending the residential, reading the study guide and recommended readings, and completing the activities. Additional time needs to be set aside for assignments (approx. 6 hours for every 500 words of assignments)
Assessment:	end of semester exam (60%); assignments (20%); learning activities from study materials (20%).

Note: Minor variations might occur due to the continuous Subject quality improvement process, and in case of minor variation(s) in assessment details, the Subject Outline represents the latest official information.