Unit Outline

This unit offers students the opportunity to develop their knowledge and skills to identify the effects of medications on the body’s physiological, biochemical, and pathophysiological processes. Key pharmacological characteristics of drug classes and specific nuances of individual drugs across the life span will be explored to optimise medication therapeutic effects and minimise adverse events. Upon completion of this unit students will be expected to use clinical reasoning and problem-solving skills to prescribe, administer, monitor, and evaluate medications in accordance with commonwealth and state legislation and policy. Students enrolled in this unit are required to successfully complete a total of 25 credit points and must be actively employed for minimum of 20 hours per week in a clinical environment specific to their specialty practice area.

Intended Learning Outcomes

As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.

On completion of this unit, you will be able to:


1.	Distinguish between the fundamental principles of pharmacology, including the differences between pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics.
2.	Communicate pharmacological interventions appropriately and responsibly to specific patient cohorts within area of practice specialty.
3.	Justify clinical decisions in the development of medication regimes in response to well defined scenarios, within area of specialty practice.

Alterations as a result of student feedback

No alterations have been made as a result of student feedback.

How will I be Assessed?

For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.

Assessment schedule


ASSESSMENT TASK #	ASSESSMENT TASK NAME	DATE DUE	WEIGHT	LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:	Online Quiz	Week 3	30 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 2:	Clinical Care Report	Week 9	30 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 3:	Individual Oral Case Presentation	Week 13	40 %	LO1, LO2, LO3

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Online Quiz

Task Description:

This assessment consists of discrete activities that combined; reflect your personal and professional development in the context of therapeutic medication management within your health care setting over the semester.

Each online quiz will be problem-based learning activities using clinical case studies. Students will use critical reasoning and problem-solving skills to explore specific pharmacological principles and quality use of medicine as related to the case studies to answer a series of questions. Format of the questions may include True/ False, short answer and /or multiple choice.
Due Dates:
Quiz 1 - Week 3,
Quiz 2 - Week 6 and
Quiz 3 - Week 11.

Task Length:

Each quiz consists of 10 questions over 20 minutes (3x 10%)

Due Date:

Week 3

Weight:

30 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Correctly responds to questions related to pharmacological process of pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics.	LO1, LO2
2	Demonstrate the ability to think in a critical manner while identifying clinical priorities relating to information presented in the case studies.	LO1, LO2, LO3

Assessment Task 2: Clinical Care Report

Task Description:

Students are to choose one patient that they have provided advanced care for in the clinical environment and outline the care given during this period. Briefly refer to the physical assessment and findings in relation to pathophysiology, the diagnostics tests requested, rationales for and interpretations, and any pharmacological interventions instigated, changed or ceased. Plan of care and management issues pertinent to the case, including referrals and discharge considerations are also to be included.

Task Length:

3000 words

Due Date:

Week 9

Weight:

30 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Provides evidence of advanced and comprehensive patient assessment, demonstrating consideration of social and cultural dimensions of health and wellness	LO2, LO3
2	Apply pharmacological interventions appropriately and responsibility to specific patient cohorts within area of practice specialty	LO1, LO2, LO3
3	Develop medication regimes based on advanced assessment within their area of specialty practice.	LO1, LO2, LO3
4	Communicate clearly and succinctly evidenced-based clinical outcomes using the current APA Style.	LO2, LO3

Assessment Task 3: Individual Oral Case Presentation

Task Description:

Each student will be required to present to a panel consisting of course coordinator and a pharmacist a case study of patient who they have cared for during the duration of the unit.
Presentation via Online platform (Zoom).

Task Length:

20 minutes (15 minutes presentation and 5 mins questions from expert panel members)

Due Date:

Week 13

Weight:

40 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Conduct a comprehensive and systematic advanced medication assessment, incorporating findings from diagnostics / testing, for a patient specific to their clinical practice specialty area	LO1, LO2, LO3
2	Deliver a quality presentation justifying their recommendation (or not) for prescribed medication regime.	LO1, LO2, LO3
3	Communicate findings in an appropriate, articulate, and confident manner.	LO1, LO2, LO3

How your final result is determined

To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes and achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater.

Submission of assignments

Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.

Requests for extensions

If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.

A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.

The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.

Late penalties

Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.

Review of results and appeals

You are entitled to ask for a review of the marking and grading of your assessment task if there is an irregularity in the marking standards or an error in the process for determining the outcome of an assessment. Details on how to request a review of a mark for an assignment are outlined in the Review and Appeal of Academic Decisions Procedure.