Medicines Management and Medication Calculations (3 cr)

Objectives (course unit)

The student

-shows familiarity with legislation concerning pharmacotherapy;
-is able to describe the stages of the medication process;
-is able to implement patients’ medication care safely under supervision;
-is able to complete medical calculations accurately.

Content (course unit)

-norms guiding pharmacotherapy
-medication process
-forms of medication and routes of administration
-medication safety
-medical calculations

Prerequisites (course unit)

none

Exam schedules

Practical test: 28 November
Medicines Management: 13 December
Medication calculation:
13 December
Retake 1. 11 February 2014
Retake 2. 18 March 2014

Evaluation methods and criteria

Medicines Management: written test, which requires 75% of points for the lowest approved grade.
Medication Calculations: test, which requires 100% correct without calculator for passing.
Practical test: approved performance.

Assessment scale

0-5

Teaching methods

Independent studying
Lectures
Homework
Skills stations
Mathematics classes

Learning materials

Pharmacology and Medicines Management for Nurses. 2008. Downie at al.Elsevier.
Nursing calculations. 2006. Gatford &Phillips.Churchill Livingstone.
Material provided by the teacher.

Student workload

Mathematics, Medicines management and calculations 26 h
Theory tests 3h
Skills stations 3x3h
Practical test 3h
Independent studies 70h

Completion alternatives

none

Further information

Theoretical classes before skills stations. Teaching: groups 1&2&5 in Finnish, groups 3 &4 in English.
Orientation, Skills stations and Mathematics 100% attendance.

Assessment criteria - satisfactory (1-2) (Not in use, Look at the Assessment criteria above)

Students
- know the basic aspects of legislation concerning medication care.
- are able to act in a responsible way in medication care.
-know the basics of stages of medication process and are aware of nurse’s responsibilities concerning medication care as a part of patient’s care.
-know the basics of forms of medication and ways of administration and are capable of implementing medication care safely and correctly.
- know the basics of pharmacokinectics and pharmacodynamics in a human body.
-know the basics of promotion of medication safety
-know basics of medication education
-administer SC IM injections correctly and safely.
-knows how to keep patient’s medication administration record
- are able to distribute medication as patient specific dose
-masters medication calculations

Assessment criteria - good (3-4) (Not in use, Look at the Assessment criteria above)

Students
-are able to describe
different stages of medication process in various nursing care environments.
-are able to educate patients about medication forms and ways of administration with rationales
- participate actively in skills stations
- carry out practical test according to patient and occupational safety

Assessment criteria - excellent (5) (Not in use, Look at the Assessment criteria above)

Students are able to apply different stages of medication process in various nursing care environments.
Students know the meaning of safe medication care as a part of patient’s holistic care.
Students are able to apply their knowledge of forms and ways of medication administration according to individual’s needs and provide guidance on medication care individually.