BMS536 Applied Pharmacology for Nursing Practice (8)

This subject will provide students with the pharmacological knowledge to manage patients with complex health problems, including co-morbidities. It will prepare students to understand the cellular mechanisms and physiological outcomes of drug actions. Changes in patient pharmacokinetic parameters will also be explored with a focus on their influence in dosing and drug administration. Students will utilise this foundational knowledge including legal and ethical principles to critically analyse the clinical use of drugs in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of common diseases. Students will have the option to choose to study in more depth drugs used in one of the following areas: emergency nursing, mental health nursing, chronic care nursing or primary health care. In particular students will critically analyse how medications affect body processes. Patient education strategies will also be explored.

Subject Outlines
Current CSU students can view Subject Outlines for recent sessions. Please note that Subject Outlines and assessment tasks are updated each session.

Availability

Session 2 (60)
Online
Orange Campus

Continuing students should consult the SAL for current offering details: BMS536. Where differences exist between the Handbook and the SAL, the SAL should be taken as containing the correct subject offering details.

Subject Information

Grading System

HD/FL

Duration

One session

School

School of Biomedical Sciences

Enrolment Restrictions

Enrolment is restricted to students enrolled in the Master of Nursing

Assumed Knowledge

Students are assumed to have a knowledge of general systems pharmacology

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this subject, students should:
  • be able to administer, monitor and evaluate medications for patients with complex health problems by applying critical thinking and problem solving skills
  • be able to critically appraise a pharmacological regime for a patient whose pharmacokinetic clinical state is altered?
  • be able to critically appraise and apply pharmacology knowledge in the prevention and treatment of common diseases, conditions and comorbidities
  • be able to critically appraise and apply pharmacology knowledge in the prevention and treatment of drugs used in one of the following areas; emergency nursing, mental health nursing, chronic care nursing, palliative care nursing or primary health care
  • be able to critically analyse how medications affect the physiological, biochemical and pathophysiological processes
  • be able to critically analyse the effects of using more than one medication on patient care
  • be able to explain and apply the legal and ethical principles of medication management

Syllabus

This subject will cover the following topics:
  • Fundamental pharmacological principles and quality use of medications.
  • Applied Pharmacokinetics
  • Application of pharmacology knowledge to common diseases and conditions
  • Pharmacovigilance and combining medications
  • Medications in emergency nursing, mental health nursing, chronic care nursing or primary health care as appropriate to the student's practice
  • Legal and ethical issues, including scope of practice, access, cost and clinical efficacy.
  • Patient teaching and education
  • Pharmacology as a vehicle for evidence based nursing practice

Contact

Current Students

For any enquiries about subject selection or course structure please contact Student Central or ask@csu.edu.au or phone on 1800 275 278.

Prospective Students

For further information about Charles Sturt University, or this course offering, please contact info.csu on 1800 275 278 (free call within Australia) or enquire online.

The information contained in the 2018 CSU Handbook was accurate at the date of publication: August 2018. The University reserves the right to vary the information at any time without notice.

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