Unit Outline
NUR241
Safety and Quality in Medication Management
Nursing Study Period 1, 2024
Ann Marie Brown
School of Nursing
College of Health and Medicine
CRICOS Provider Code: 00586B

Unit Coordinator
Ann Marie Brown
Email: AnnMarie.Brown@utas.edu.au
 

What is the Unit About?
Unit Description
Safety and Quality in Medication Management will allow you to identify the clinical perspectives of therapeutic medication management. You will examine the Quality Use of Medications and the Registered Nurse Practice Standards (2016) to consider legal, professional standards, regulatory guidelines, and ethical practice. You will apply the clinical reasoning cycle and national evidence-based resources to safely administer medications and work effectively as part of a multi-disciplinary health care team. Principles and socio-political and health economic implications of medication use for patients, across the lifespan, and from a range of cultural perspectives will be considered.
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.
Identify the roles of the registered nurse in relation to medication management across the lifespan.
2.
Apply principles of clinical reasoning and pharmacology to safely administer medications through various routes correctly, including calculation of drug dose.
3.
Distinguish between the major groups of medications.
4.
Practice in alignment with safety and quality in medication management practices through the adherence to national standards and legislation.
5.
Demonstrate communication skills using structured evidence-informed assessment tools and adhere to academic writing skills.
Requisites
REQUISITE TYPE
REQUISITES
Pre-requisite
NUR135 Nursing Practice 1
Alterations as a result of student feedback
No alterations have been made as a result of student feedback.
 
 

Teaching arrangements
ATTENDANCE MODE
TEACHING TYPE
LEARNING ACTIVITY
CONTACT HOURS
FREQUENCY
On Campus
Independent Learning
Online independent learning - 10 hours
10
StudyPeriod 12 times
Lecture (On Campus)
Intensives 1 and 2 - 1 hour Workshop
1
Study Period 2 times
Practical
Intensives 1, 2 and 3 - Practical A of 2 hours
2
Study Period 3 times
Practical
Intensive 2 - Practical B of 2 hours
2
Study Period 1 time
Attendance / engagement expectations
If your unit is offered On campus, it is expected that you will attend all on-campus and onsite learning activities. This is to support your own learning and the development of a learning community within the unit. If you are unable to attend regularly, please discuss the situation with your course coordinator and/or our UConnect support team.

If your unit is offered Online, it is expected you will engage in all those activities as indicated in the Unit Outline, including any self-directed learning.

If you miss a learning activity for a legitimate reason (e.g., illness, carer responsibilities) teaching staff will attempt to provide alternative activities (e.g., make up readings) where it is possible.
 
In this unit, your active engagement will be monitored in the following way:  
1. Attendance at each intensive for the study period  
2. Attendance at webinars and activity in the MyLo site  
Progression in this unit requires attendance at face-to-face teaching sessions and participation in all learning activities. Attendance will be recorded.  
Intensives are designed to provide you with an opportunity to apply theory to practice and develop your skills in the practice of nursing. The Intensives provide a key role in facilitating the development of your skills, knowledge and understanding. This is in preparation for both your upcoming Professional Experience Placements and your ongoing engagement in the Bachelor of Nursing. Attendance at PEP is mandatory.
 
 

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:
Medications Calculations Test
Week 6
0 %
LO2
Assessment Task 2:
Case Study Analysis
Week 6
20 %
LO1, LO2, LO4, LO5
Assessment Task 3:
Objective Structured Clinical Examination - Practical Medication Administration
Week 11
40 %
LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5
Assessment Task 4:
Final Written Examination
Exam Period
40 %
LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
 
Assessment details
    
Assessment Task 1: Medications Calculations Test
Task Description:
This test evaluates your ability to accurately perform medication calculations.

Task Length:
21 questions to be completed in 30 minutes
Due Date:
Week 6
Weight:
0 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Calculate medication dosages and concentrations correctly
LO2
 
Assessment Task 2: Case Study Analysis
Task Description:
You are required to examine the key scope of practice, legal and ethical aspects of a case study taking into consideration relevant National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards and Nursing Standards for Practice.

Task Length:
1000 words
Due Date:
Week 6
Weight:
20 %
 
 

CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Identify scope of practice issues that relates to the case.
LO1, LO2
2
Identify the legal aspects of each case with reference to legislation
LO4
3
Adhere to academic writing principles
LO5
4
Identify the ethical aspects of each case in relation to nursing codes and standards
LO4
 
Assessment Task 3: Objective Structured Clinical Examination - Practical Medication Administration
Task Description:
During the assessment session, you will be required to perform one individual skill and answer knowledge related questions related to the administration of medications

Task Length:
A maximum of 20 minutes.
Due Date:
Week 11
Weight:
40 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Apply clinical reasoning to medication administration.
LO1
2
Apply principles of pharmacology to safely administer medications through various routes correctly.
LO1, LO2, LO3
3
Adhere to national standards, including communication and documentation.
LO1, LO4, LO5
4
Demonstrate the ability to develop and apply peer evaluation skills.
LO1, LO4, LO5
 
Assessment Task 4: Final Written Examination
Task Description:
The final examination uses various case-based scenarios.

Task Length:
2 hours
Due Date:
Exam Period
Weight:
40 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Apply clinical reasoning to the administration of medications
LO2
2
Distinguish the characteristics of major medication groups
LO3
3
Identify the roles of the registered nurse in relation to medication administration and education across the lifespan
LO1, LO4
4
Apply principles of pharmacology to safely administer medications through various routes correctly, including calculation of drug dose
LO2
 
 
 

How your final result is determined
To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.
 
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.
 
 
 

Required Resources
Required reading materials
Bauldoff, G., Gubrud, P., Carno, M-A., & Levett-Jones, T. (2020). LeMone and Burke’s medical-surgical nursing : Critical thinking for person-centred care. (4th ed.).  Pearson Australia.
Berman, A., Snyder, S., Levett-Jones, T., Burton, P., & Harvey, N.  (2021). Skills in clinical nursing. Pearson Australia. 
Berman, A., Snyder, S., Levett-Jones, T., Dwyer, T., Hales, M., Harvey, N., Langtree, Moxham, L., Parker, Reid-Searl, K., Stanley, D. (2018). Kozier and Erb’s Fundamentals of Nursing; Concepts, Process and Practice. Pearson. Australia
 Tiziani, A., (2022). Harvard’s guide to drugs (11th Ed.). Mosby, Sydney, NSW. 
 
 
Recommended reading materials
Recommended Readings will be provided by your Unit Coordinator via the Reading List link in MyLO, or the unit Reading List on the University Library website.
 
Other required resources