NS5921 - Pharmacotherapeutics for Nurse Practitioners 1

[Offered in odd-numbered years]

Credit points:	03
Year:	2013
Student Contribution Band:	Band 2
Administered by:	School of Nursing, Midwifery & Nutrition

This subject will build on pre-existing knowledge of pharmacology from the Nursing students' existing practice in order for them to acquire knowledge and skill associated with the safe prescribing of medications as a Nurse Practitioner. It will link the mechanisms of pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics to the practical and clinical effects of medications prescribed by Nurse Practitioners. It will outline the requirements for prescribing various medications within the scope of practice for Nurse Practitioners.

Learning Outcomes

• develop knowledge and skills required by Nurse Practitioners associated with the safe use of medicines in practice;
• apply mechanisms of pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics to the clinical effects of drugs;
• apply knowledge of drug classes and their therapeutic management to differing bodily systems and diseases;
• examine the legal and professional aspects of medication supply and administration within their scope of practice;
• develop skills to write prescriptions in accordance with legislative requirements.

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
External, Study Period 2
Census Date 29-Aug-2013
Coord/Lect:	Mr John Smithson.
Method of Delivery:	WWW - LearnJCU
Assessment:	end of semester exam (50%); assignments (50%).

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.