Study Guide

Objectives (course unit)

The student
- shows familiarity with legislation concerning pharmacotherapy
- is able to describe the stages of the medication process
- understands the requirements of safe medication and their importance in patient safety
- is able to implement patients’ medication care safely under supervision
- knows reliable databases of pharmacotherapy and is able to use them
- is able to complete medical calculations accurately.

Content (course unit)

- norms guiding pharmacotherapy
- medication process
- medication safety
- forms of medication and routes of administration
- practice subcutaneous and intramuscular injection
- planning the implementation of the patient's medication and measuring the medication into patient-specific doses
- using different medical databases in medication-related decision-making
- knows the basics of medication guidance
- medical calculations

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1-2) (course unit)

The student
- knows the basics of regulations governing medication treatment
- knows the basics of the medication treatment process and is aware of the responsibilities of medication-related tasks in nursing care
- is able to act responsibly in the patient's medication treatment
- knows the basics of different pharmaceutical forms and methods of administration, and knows how to safely and correctly implement a patient’s medication
- is able to inject subcutaneously and intramuscularly safely
- is able to search and use information from reliable pharmacotherapy databases
- knows the basics of promoting the safety of medication treatment
- knows the basics of medication phases and effects in the body
- is able to guide the patient in medication under supervision
- is able to calculate medication correctly.

Assessment criteria, good (3-4) (course unit)

The student, in addition to a satisfactory level
- is able to justify his / her actions at different stages of the pharmacotherapy process
- is able to plan and implement patient medication guidance

Assessment criteria, excellent (5) (course unit)

The student, in addition to a good level,
- is able to apply his / her knowledge at different stages of the pharmacotherapy process
- knows the consequences of pharmacotherapy and is able to react to them as required by the situation
- is able to guide the patient individually in medication treatment

Exam schedules

Calculations test
Pharmacotherapy test
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Calculations: 1. retake
Pharmacotherapy test (retake I)
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Calculations: 2.
Pharmacotherapy test (retake II)

Assessment methods and criteria

Pharmacotherapy and medical calculations course is graded 0-5. The course must be completed before clinical training 3.
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Pharmacotherapy: written test, requirement minimum of 75% of points for passing. Asessment graded, 0-5.
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Calculations: 100% correct. Asessment approved (S)/ failed (0).
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Skills stations: Preparatory tasks, presence and 100% active participation. Asessment approved (S)/ failed (0).
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Small group work: Presence and 100% active participation
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Mathematics: Everyone takes the preliminary math test (without a calculator) If all correct, approved mark for the math part. No retakes. If the test is failed, the student completes math tasks. Math part will be approved and completed when 100% of the tasks are correct by the set due date on Moodle-platform. There will be math classes (where guidance for the tasks is provided. Mathematics part is assessed pass/fail. (Mark S means passing and 0 failure.)

Assessment scale

0-5

Teaching methods

Implementation will be updated in Jan 2022

Lectures, skills stations practice, small group work, independent studies, flipped learning, seminar, preparatory tests, homework, exams

Learning materials

Pharmacotherapy:
e-book. Kozier & Erb’s fundamentals of nursing: concepts,process, and practice. 2016 .Chapter 35 Medications

e-book. Understanding Pharmacology in Nursing Practice [electronic resource] / edited by Pauline Hood, Ehsan Khan., Cham :, Springer International Publishing :, 2020, 3-030-32004-9, ISBN


- Laukkanen, E. & Ruokoniemi, P. ( toim.) 2021. Turvallinen lääkehoito. Opas lääkehoitosuunnitelman laatimiseen. Saatavilla www-osoitteessa https://julkaisut.valtioneuvosto.fi/handle/10024/162847 Description sheet only!!

-lecture materials, moodle material, and other material appointed by teachers

Medical calculations: Tyreman Chris. 2013.e-book: How to Master Nursing Calculations:Improve Your Maths and Make Sense of Drug Dosage Charts.Kogan Page
Link to the book:
https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/tampere/detail.action?docID=5254520

(also as needed:Calculation skills for nurses (e-book).2013. Boyd, Claire)

Student workload

108 hours including contact lessons, small group work, seminar, skills stations, and independent work

Completion alternatives

none

Further information

Course Orientation, small groups, seminars, and skills stations, are mandatory for every participant. Absent students will not be approved to the course.
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Contents:
- Regulations governing medication management
- Medication databases
- Pharmacotherapy of outpatient and inpatient care
- Forms of medication and routes of administration
- Phases and effects of drugs in the body
- Aseptic practice in medication care
- Special features of pharmacotherapy throughout the life span
- Medication education
- Medication safety and prevention of adverse events
- Mathematics and calculations