| Effective Term: | 2026/05 |
| 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 nursing students to the essential principles of pharmacology, with a focus on the safe and effective use of medications in healthcare settings. This unit covers key pharmacotherapeutic concepts such as pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, helping students understand how medications interact with the body and how the body affects drugs. Students will learn the mechanism of action, characteristics, and potential side effects of various medication groups commonly used in nursing and midwifery practice. The unit emphasises the importance of understanding pharmacotherapeutics in different healthcare contexts, highlighting the implications for nursing practice. Students will develop a foundational knowledge of how to apply pharmacology concepts to patient care, ensuring that medication administration is safe and informed by best practice standards. Additionally, the unit explores the legal considerations and responsibilities related to medication administration, ensuring students are aware of the ethical and legal frameworks governing nursing and midwifery practice. |
| 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. | Identify and explain 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. | Explore the use of pharmacotherapeutics in health care settings and describe the implications for nursing and/or midwifery |
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| Application of knowledge and skills: |
| A1. | Describe medication administration considerations and legal implication |
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| Other outcomes: |
| Unit Content: |
This unit provides a comprehensive introduction to the core concepts of pharmacology in nursing and midwifery practice. Students will begin by learning key pharmacotherapeutic terminologies, including pharmacokinetics (how the body absorbs, distributes, metabolises, and excretes medications) and pharmacodynamics (how drugs exert their effects on the body). This foundational knowledge is essential for understanding medication action and dosage considerations. Medication administration and legal considerations are key components of this unit. Students will learn about the safe handling, administration, and monitoring of medications, while also understanding the legal responsibilities involved in medication management. Topics include compliance with legal standards, patient safety, and the ethical implications of administering medications. Through these discussions, students will gain the knowledge needed to make informed, safe, and effective decisions regarding pharmacotherapeutics in clinical practice.
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
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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 will demonstrate the ability to effectively communicate, inter-act and work with others both individually and in groups. Students will be required to display skills in-person and/or online in: • Using effective verbal and non-verbal communication • Listening for meaning and influencing via active listening • Showing empathy for others • Negotiating and demonstrating conflict resolution skills • Working respectfully in cross-cultural and diverse teams. | N/A - Not Applicable | FEDTASK 2
Leadership | Students will demonstrate the ability to apply professional skills and behaviours in leading others. Students will be required to display skills in: • Creating a collegial environment • Showing self -awareness and the ability to self-reflect • Inspiring and convincing others • Making informed decisions • Displaying initiative | N/A - Not Applicable | FEDTASK 3
Critical Thinking and Creativity | Students will demonstrate an ability to work in complexity and ambiguity using the imagination to create new ideas. Students will be required to display skills in: • Reflecting critically • Evaluating ideas, concepts and information • Considering alternative perspectives to refine ideas • Challenging conventional thinking to clarify concepts • Forming creative solutions in problem solving. | Level 1 - Students require directions and boundaries from mentor | FEDTASK 4
Digital Literacy | Students will demonstrate the ability to work fluently across a range of tools, platforms and applications to achieve a range of tasks. Students will be required to display skills in: • Finding, evaluating, managing, curating, organising and sharing digital information • Collating, managing, accessing and using digital data securely • Receiving and responding to messages in a range of digital media • Contributing actively to digital teams and working groups • Participating in and benefiting from digital learning opportunities. | Level 1 - Students require directions and boundaries from mentor | FEDTASK 5
Sustainable and Ethical Mindset | Students will demonstrate the ability to consider and assess the consequences and impact of ideas and actions in enacting ethical and sustainable decisions. Students will be required to display skills in: • Making informed judgments that consider the impact of devising solutions in global economic environmental and societal contexts • Committing to social responsibility as a professional and a citizen • Evaluating ethical, socially responsible and/or sustainable challenges and generating and articulating responses • Embracing lifelong, life-wide and life-deep learning to be open to diverse others • 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. |
K1, K2 |
Pharmacokinetics and dynamics of a specified drug |
Poster Presentation |
40-60% |
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| 2. |
K1, K2, S1, A1 |
Students are provided a live scenario and to respond to a patient around medication administration, education and monitoring. |
Case Scenario |
40-60% |
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| 3. |
K1, K2, S1, A1 |
Attendance at Active Learning Sessions |
80% Attendance at Active Learning Sessions |
S/U Hurdle |
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| 4. |
K1, K2, S1, A1 |
Attendance/attempt at all assessments |
100% Attendance/attempt at assessments 1 and 2 |
S/U Hurdle |
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