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HE Unit Template
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Nursing Context 5: Pharmacology for Nurses
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NURBN2020 - Nursing Context 5: Pharmacology for Nurses
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20250200
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Course
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Unit
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2.1
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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/nurbn2020">View unit fees</a>
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Graded (e.g. HD, D, C, etc)
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7
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Bachelor Degree
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Intermediate
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1
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<p>This unit provides students continuing from year 1, with a more in-depth study of the field of therapeutics, which plays a significant role in the prevention and management of disease. Nurses and Midwives must have a comprehensive knowledge of the actions and effects of medicines being taken by patients and childbearing/lactating women in their care to provide safe, competent and effective medication administration. Understanding medications and the role of therapeutics requires a strong foundation of pharmacologic principles to help establish the knowledge base to underpin safe practice. This unit examines fundamental knowledge and skills to promote the therapeutic application of medications in the clinical setting and to enhance the ability of the nurse or midwife to provide person/woman-centered care and education across the lifespan</p>
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<p>The current NMBA Registered Nurse Standards for Practice, NMBA Code of Conduct for Nurses, Code of Ethics for Nurses, National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards, Aged Care Quality Standards, National Health Priority Areas and where applicable the NMBA National Competency Standards for the Midwives, NMBA Code of Conduct for Midwives, ICM/NMBA Code of Ethics for Midwives have informed the content development of this unit. Pharmacodynamics Practice applications of pharmacodynamics Pharmacokinetics Practice applications of pharmacokinetics Polypharmacy and socio-cultural aspects Medication and WHO research Medication Groupings Medication terminology Lifespan issues and adverse drug reactions Implications of medication use during pre-conception, pregnancy and lactation Application of ethics and critical thinking to pharmacology scenarios Allergy and adverse drug reaction Cultural health issues relating to pharmaceuticals Pharmacological assessment & clinical decision making Assessment protocols/template applications Patient medication education (e.g. teach back method) Medication charting and errors, (RISK MAN and open disclosure) Complementary, alternative and Over the Counter (OTC) medications and therapies. Medication safety in mental health</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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Semester
Semester
0200
Year
Year
2027
Current Year
2026
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NURBN2020 - Nursing Context 5: Pharmacology for Nurses
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NURBN2020 - Nursing Context 5: Pharmacology for Nurses
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Semester
Semester 1
Semester 2
Summer Semester
Year
2027
2026
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RDS Holder
Overview
Key information
Requisites
Learning outcomes
Assessment
FedTASK
Parent Region
Overview
Unit description
<p>This unit provides students continuing from year 1, with a more in-depth study of the field of therapeutics, which plays a significant role in the prevention and management of disease. Nurses and Midwives must have a comprehensive knowledge of the actions and effects of medicines being taken by patients and childbearing/lactating women in their care to provide safe, competent and effective medication administration. Understanding medications and the role of therapeutics requires a strong foundation of pharmacologic principles to help establish the knowledge base to underpin safe practice. This unit examines fundamental knowledge and skills to promote the therapeutic application of medications in the clinical setting and to enhance the ability of the nurse or midwife to provide person/woman-centered care and education across the lifespan</p>
Unit content
<p>The current NMBA Registered Nurse Standards for Practice, NMBA Code of Conduct for Nurses, Code of Ethics for Nurses, National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards, Aged Care Quality Standards, National Health Priority Areas and where applicable the NMBA National Competency Standards for the Midwives, NMBA Code of Conduct for Midwives, ICM/NMBA Code of Ethics for Midwives have informed the content development of this unit. Pharmacodynamics Practice applications of pharmacodynamics Pharmacokinetics Practice applications of pharmacokinetics Polypharmacy and socio-cultural aspects Medication and WHO research Medication Groupings Medication terminology Lifespan issues and adverse drug reactions Implications of medication use during pre-conception, pregnancy and lactation Application of ethics and critical thinking to pharmacology scenarios Allergy and adverse drug reaction Cultural health issues relating to pharmaceuticals Pharmacological assessment & clinical decision making Assessment protocols/template applications Patient medication education (e.g. teach back method) Medication charting and errors, (RISK MAN and open disclosure) Complementary, alternative and Over the Counter (OTC) medications and therapies. Medication safety in mental health</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
Grade scheme:
Graded (e.g. HD, D, C, etc)
Placement component:
No
Fee information:
<a href="http://www.federation.edu.au/locate/unit/nurbn2020">View unit fees</a>
Requisites
Prerequisite
None
Corequisite
None
Exclusion
None
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>Identify and explain various terminologies, characteristics and mechanisms of action of significant medication groups</p>
K2
<p>Identify and explain the indicators of adverse drug reactions</p>
K3
<p>Identify and describe therapeutic effect of and responses to medications and related life span issues from pre-conception to end of life.</p>
S1
<p>Analyse and identify appropriate medication administration considerations</p>
S2
<p>Analyse and explain factors which determine the potency of medication responses</p>
S3
<p>Apply nursing or midwifery assessment principles and clinical reasoning to medication administration to promote quality patient/woman care</p>
S4
<p>Explore the use of complementary and alternative therapies in the health care setting and describe the implications for nursing and/or midwifery</p>
A1
<p>Explore the impact of polypharmacy and develop patient/woman-specific nursing and midwifery plans for patient/woman care</p>
A2
<p>Investigate factors and processes which may contribute to medication errors in professional practice</p>
A3
<p>Explore the effect of health technology/ informatics on prescribing, dispensing and administering medications</p>
A4
<p>Apply the knowledge and skills of therapeutic pharmacological intervention in a clinical based scenario(s)</p>
Assessment
Learning Tasks and Assessment
Ref
Learning task
Assessment type
Weighting
Learning outcomes assessed
1
<p>Attendance at Active Learning Sessions</p>
<p>80% Attendance at Active Learning Sessions</p>
<p>S/U Hurdle</p>
K1, K2, K3, S1, S2, S3, S4, A1, A2, A3, A4
2
<p>Patient education video on medication regime</p>
<p>Asynchronous oral presentation</p>
<p>40-60%</p>
K1, K2, K3, S1, S2, S3, A2, A4
3
<p>Group poster presentation on quality use of medicines</p>
<p>Poster</p>
<p>40-60%</p>
K1, K2, K3, S2, A1, A4
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.
<p>Level 2 - Student demonstrates some independence within provided guidelines</p>
FedTASK 2: Leadership
The ability to apply professional skills and behaviours in leading others.
<p>Level 2 - Student demonstrates some independence within provided guidelines</p>
FedTASK 3: Critical Thinking and Creativity
The ability to work in complexity and ambiguity using imagination to create new ideas.
<p>Level 2 - Student demonstrates some independence within provided guidelines</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 2 - Student demonstrates some independence within provided guidelines</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 2 - Student demonstrates some independence within provided guidelines</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
Grade scheme:
Graded (e.g. HD, D, C, etc)
Placement component:
No
Fee information:
<a href="http://www.federation.edu.au/locate/unit/nurbn2020">View unit fees</a>
Additional information
Add Info Static Text
Internal reference: NURBN2020 - U2.1