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HE Unit Template
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Fundamentals of Pharmacology
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NURBN1105 - Fundamentals of Pharmacology
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20270200
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2.0
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2026-09-10
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2026-09-10
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Nursing
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Institute of Health and Wellbeing
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Nursing
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Undergraduate
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15
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.125
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060301
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General Nursing
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060301 - General Nursing
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<a href="http://www.federation.edu.au/locate/unit/nurbn1105">View unit fees</a>
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Graded (e.g. HD, D, C, etc)
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Introductory
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<p>This unit introduces students to foundational principles of pharmacology, with a focus on the safe and effective use of medications in nursing and midwifery practice. Students will explore core pharmacotherapeutic concepts, including pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, and examine how medications interact with the body, their mechanisms of action, and potential adverse effects.</p>
<p>Emphasis is placed on the application of pharmacology knowledge to clinical decision-making, ensuring safe, evidence-based, and person-centred medication administration across diverse healthcare settings. The unit also examines legal and ethical responsibilities related to medication management, preparing students to practise within professional standards and regulatory frameworks.</p>
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<p>The following key standards have guided the content development of this unit:</p>
<ul>
<li>NMBA Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (Registered nurse standards for practice, Midwife standards for practice, Code of conduct, and ICN Code of ethics for nurses)</li>
<li>NSQHS National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards</li>
<li>National Safety and Quality Primary and Community</li>
<li>ACQS Aged Care Quality Standards</li>
<li>National Health Priority Areas</li>
</ul>
<p><br></p>
<p>Content may include:</p>
<ul>
<li>Pharmacokinetics</li>
<li>Pharmacodynamics</li>
<li>Medication action and dosage considerations.</li>
<li>Medication administration</li>
<li>Safe handling, administration, and monitoring of medications</li>
<li>Legal and ethical consideration of medication administration</li>
<li>Patient Safety</li>
<li>Quality use of medicines</li>
<li>The Prescribing Competencies Framework</li>
</ul>
<p><br></p>
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<p>Where supplementary assessment is available a student must have failed overall in the Unit but gained a final mark of 45 per cent or above, has completed all major assessment tasks (including all sub-components where a task has multiple parts) as specified in the Unit Description and is not eligible for any other form of supplementary assessment.</p>
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2027
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2026
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NURBN1105 - Fundamentals of Pharmacology
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NURBN1105 - Fundamentals of Pharmacology
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2027
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Overview
Key information
Requisites
Learning outcomes
Assessment
FedTASK
Parent Region
Overview
Unit description
<p>This unit introduces students to foundational principles of pharmacology, with a focus on the safe and effective use of medications in nursing and midwifery practice. Students will explore core pharmacotherapeutic concepts, including pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, and examine how medications interact with the body, their mechanisms of action, and potential adverse effects.</p> <p>Emphasis is placed on the application of pharmacology knowledge to clinical decision-making, ensuring safe, evidence-based, and person-centred medication administration across diverse healthcare settings. The unit also examines legal and ethical responsibilities related to medication management, preparing students to practise within professional standards and regulatory frameworks.</p>
Unit content
<p>The following key standards have guided the content development of this unit:</p> <ul> <li>NMBA Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (Registered nurse standards for practice, Midwife standards for practice, Code of conduct, and ICN Code of ethics for nurses)</li> <li>NSQHS National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards</li> <li>National Safety and Quality Primary and Community</li> <li>ACQS Aged Care Quality Standards</li> <li>National Health Priority Areas</li> </ul> <p><br></p> <p>Content may include:</p> <ul> <li>Pharmacokinetics</li> <li>Pharmacodynamics</li> <li>Medication action and dosage considerations.</li> <li>Medication administration</li> <li>Safe handling, administration, and monitoring of medications</li> <li>Legal and ethical consideration of medication administration</li> <li>Patient Safety</li> <li>Quality use of medicines</li> <li>The Prescribing Competencies Framework</li> </ul> <p><br></p>
Key information
Institute / school:
Institute of Health and Wellbeing
Discipline:
Nursing
Study level:
Undergraduate
Credit points:
15
EFTSL:
0.125
Field of education:
060301 - General Nursing
Offering:
<p><strong>Semester 1</strong><p>Ballarat - Mt Helen (On Campus)</p><p>Gippsland - Churchill (On Campus)</p></p> <p><strong>Semester 2</strong><p>Ballarat - Mt Helen (On Campus)</p><p>Berwick (On Campus)</p><p>Blended Delivery - Berwick (Blended)</p><p>Blended Delivery - Gippsland (Blended)</p><p>Blended Delivery - Mt Helen (Blended)</p><p>Blended Delivery - Wonthaggi (Blended)</p><p>Gippsland - Churchill (On Campus)</p></p>
Grade scheme:
Graded (e.g. HD, D, C, etc)
Placement component:
No
Fee information:
<a href="http://www.federation.edu.au/locate/unit/nurbn1105">View unit fees</a>
Requisites
Prerequisite
None
Corequisite
None
Exclusion
<p>must not have completed <a href="/ords/r/curriculum/catalogue/course?p6_code=NURBN2020" target="_blank">NURBN2020</a></p>
Learning outcomes
Learning outcomes
<p>On successful completion of this unit, students are expected to gain the following [K]nowledge, [S]kills and [A]pplication of knowledge & skills</p>
Learning Outcomes
Ref
Outcome
K1
<p>Describe key pharmacotherapeutic terminologies, including pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics</p>
K2
<p>Explain the mechanism of action, and characteristics of common medication groups including side effects and adverse outcomes</p>
S1
<p>Discuss the use of pharmacotherapeutics in healthcare settings and identify the implications for nursing and/or midwifery</p>
A1
<p>Apply knowledge of medication administration principles and legal requirements to ensure safe and accountable nursing practice.</p>
Assessment
Learning Tasks and Assessment
Ref
Learning task
Assessment type
Weighting
Learning outcomes assessed
1
<p>Online Quiz</p>
<p>Quiz</p>
<p>5 -15%</p>
S1, A1
2
<p>Pharmacokinetics and dynamics of a specified drug</p>
<p>Poster Presentation</p>
<p>35-55%</p>
K1, K2
3
<p>Students are provided a live scenario and respond to a patient around medication administration, education and</p><p>monitoring.</p>
<p>Synchronous Oral Presentation</p>
<p>35-55%</p>
K1, K2, S1, A1
4
<p>Attendance at Active Learning Sessions</p>
<p>80% Attendance at Active Learning Sessions</p>
<p>S/U Hurdle</p>
K1, K2, S1, A1
5
<p>Attendance/attempt at all assessments</p>
<p>100% Attendance/attempt at assessments 1, 2, and 3</p>
<p>S/U Hurdle</p>
K1, K2, S1, A1
Supplementary assessment available:
Yes
Supplementary assessment information:
<p>Where supplementary assessment is available a student must have failed overall in the Unit but gained a final mark of 45 per cent or above, has completed all major assessment tasks (including all sub-components where a task has multiple parts) as specified in the Unit Description and is not eligible for any other form of supplementary assessment.</p>
FedTASK
FedTASK
Description of FedTASK outcome
Level
FedTASK 1: Interpersonal
The ability to effectively communicate, interact and work with others both individually and in groups.
FedTASK 2: Leadership
The ability to apply professional skills and behaviours in leading others.
FedTASK 3: Critical Thinking and Creativity
The ability to work in complexity and ambiguity using imagination to create new ideas.
<p>Level 1 - Students require directions and boundaries from mentor</p>
FedTASK 4: Digital Literacy
The ability to work fluently across a range of tools and applications to achieve a range of skills.
<p>Level 1 - Students require directions and boundaries from mentor</p>
FedTASK 5: Sustainable and Ethical Mindset
The ability to consider and assess the consequences and impact of ideas and actions in enacting ethical and sustainable decisions.
<p>Level 1 - Students require directions and boundaries from mentor</p>
FedTASK
<p>Federation University recognises that students require key transferable employability skills to prepare them for their future workplace and society. FedTASKs (<strong>T</strong>ransferable <strong>A</strong>ttributes <strong>S</strong>kills and <strong>K</strong>nowledge) provide a targeted focus on five key, transferable Attributes, Skills, and Knowledge that are embedded within curriculum, developed gradually towards successful measures and interlinked with cross-discipline and co-operative learning opportunities.</p>
Key information
Institute / school:
Institute of Health and Wellbeing
Discipline:
Nursing
Study level:
Undergraduate
Credit points:
15
EFTSL:
0.125
Field of education:
060301 - General Nursing
Offering:
<p><strong>Semester 1</strong><p>Ballarat - Mt Helen (On Campus)</p><p>Gippsland - Churchill (On Campus)</p></p> <p><strong>Semester 2</strong><p>Ballarat - Mt Helen (On Campus)</p><p>Berwick (On Campus)</p><p>Blended Delivery - Berwick (Blended)</p><p>Blended Delivery - Gippsland (Blended)</p><p>Blended Delivery - Mt Helen (Blended)</p><p>Blended Delivery - Wonthaggi (Blended)</p><p>Gippsland - Churchill (On Campus)</p></p>
Grade scheme:
Graded (e.g. HD, D, C, etc)
Placement component:
No
Fee information:
<a href="http://www.federation.edu.au/locate/unit/nurbn1105">View unit fees</a>
Additional information
Add Info Static Text
Internal reference: NURBN1105 - U2.0