| Effective Term: | 2027/05 |
| Institute / School : | Institute of Health and Wellbeing |
| Unit Title: | Fundamentals of Pharmacology |
| Unit ID: | NURBN1105 |
| Credit Points: | 15.00 |
| Prerequisite(s): | Nil |
| Co-requisite(s): | Nil |
| Exclusion(s): | (NURBN2020) |
| ASCED: | 060301 |
| Other Change: | |
| Brief description of the Unit |
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.
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. |
| Grade Scheme: | Graded (HD, D, C, P, MF, F, XF) |
| Work Experience Indicator: |
| No work experience |
| Placement Component: | |
| Supplementary Assessment:Yes |
| 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 |
| Course Level: |
| Level of Unit in Course | AQF Level(s) of Course | | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | | Introductory | | | | | | | | Intermediate | | | | | | | | Advanced | | | | | | |
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| Learning Outcomes: |
| Knowledge: |
| K1. | Describe key pharmacotherapeutic terminologies, including pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics |
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| K2. | Explain the mechanism of action, and characteristics of common medication groups including side effects and adverse outcomes |
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| Skills: |
| S1. | Discuss the use of pharmacotherapeutics in healthcare settings and identify the implications for nursing and/or midwifery |
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| Application of knowledge and skills: |
| A1. | Apply knowledge of medication administration principles and legal requirements to ensure safe and accountable nursing practice. |
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| Other outcomes: |
| Unit Content: |
The following key standards have guided the content development of this unit:
- 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)
- NSQHS National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards
- National Safety and Quality Primary and Community
- ACQS Aged Care Quality Standards
- National Health Priority Areas
Content may include:
- Pharmacokinetics
- Pharmacodynamics
- Medication action and dosage considerations.
- Medication administration
- Safe handling, administration, and monitoring of medications
- Legal and ethical consideration of medication administration
- Patient Safety
- Quality use of medicines
- The Prescribing Competencies Framework
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| Graduate Attributes: |
| Federation University recognises that students require key transferable employability skills to prepare them for their future workplace and society. FEDTASKS (Transferable Attributes Skills and Knowledge) provide a targeted focus on five key transferable Attributes, Skills, and Knowledge that are be embedded within curriculum, developed gradually towards successful measures and interlinked with cross-discipline and Co-operative Learning opportunities. One or more FEDTASK, transferable Attributes, Skills or Knowledge must be evident in the specified learning outcomes and assessment for each FedUni Unit, and all must be directly assessed in each Course.
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| FED TASK and descriptor | Development and acquisition of FEDTASKS in the Unit | | Level | FEDTASK 1 Interpersonal | Students at this level will demonstrate an advanced ability in a range of contexts to effectively communicate, interact and work with others both individually and in groups. Students will be required to display high level skills in-person and/or online in: • Using and demonstrating a high level of verbal and non-verbal communication • Demonstrating a mastery of listening for meaning and influencing via active listening • Demonstrating and showing empathy for others • High order skills in negotiating and conflict resolution skills\\ • Demonstrating mastery of working respectfully in cross-cultural and diverse teams. | | FEDTASK 2 Leadership | Students at this level will demonstrate a mastery in professional skills and behaviours in leading others. • Creating and sustaining a collegial environment • Demonstrating a high level of self -awareness and the ability to self-reflect and justify decisions • Inspiring and initiating opportunities to lead others • Making informed professional decisions • Demonstrating initiative in new professional situations. | | FEDTASK 3 Critical Thinking and Creativity | Students at this level will demonstrate high level skills in working in complexity and ambiguity using the imagination to create new ideas. Students will be required to display skills in: • Reflecting critically to generate and consider complex ideas and concepts at an abstract level • Analysing complex and abstract ideas, concepts and information • Communicate alternative perspectives to justify complex ideas • Demonstrate a mastery of challenging conventional thinking to clarify complex concepts • Forming creative solutions in problem solving to new situations for further learning. | Level 1 - Students require directions and boundaries from mentor | FEDTASK 4 Digital Literacy | Students at this level will demonstrate the ability to work competently across a wide range of tools, platforms and applications to achieve a range of tasks. Students will be required to display skills in: • Mastering, exploring, evaluating, managing, curating, organising and sharing digital information professionally • Collating, managing complex data, accessing and using digital data securely • Receiving and responding professionally to messages in a range of professional digital media • Contributing competently and professionally to digital teams and working groups • Participating at a high level in digital learning opportunities. | Level 1 - Students require directions and boundaries from mentor | FEDTASK 5 sustainable and Ethical Mindset | Students at this level will demonstrate a mastery of considering and assessing the consequences and impact of ideas and actions in enacting professional ethical and sustainable decisions. Students will be required to display skills in: • Demonstrate informed judgment making that considers the impact of devising complex solutions in ambiguous global economic environmental and societal contexts • Professionally committing to the promulgation of social responsibility • Demonstrate the ability to evaluate ethical, socially responsible and/or sustainable challenges and generating and articulating responses • Communicating lifelong, life-wide and life-deep learning to be open to the diverse professional others • Generating, leading and implementing required actions to foster sustainability in their professional and personal life | Level 1 - Students require directions and boundaries from mentor |
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| | Learning Outcomes Assessed | Assessment Tasks | Assessment Type | Weighting | Professional Standards |
| 1. |
S1, A1 |
Online Quiz |
Quiz |
5 -15% |
1,3,6 |
| 2. |
K1, K2 |
Pharmacokinetics and dynamics of a specified drug |
Poster Presentation |
35-55% |
1, 5, 6, 7 |
| 3. |
K1, K2, S1, A1 |
Students are provided a live scenario and respond to a patient around medication administration, education and monitoring. |
Synchronous Oral Presentation |
35-55% |
1, 3, 5, 6, 7 |
| 4. |
K1, K2, S1, A1 |
Attendance at Active Learning Sessions |
80% Attendance at Active Learning Sessions |
S/U Hurdle |
1, 3, 5, 6, 7 |
| 5. |
K1, K2, S1, A1 |
Attendance/attempt at all assessments |
100% Attendance/attempt at assessments 1, 2, and 3 |
S/U Hurdle |
1, 3, 5, 6, 7 |
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