units

BEH2152

Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences

18 September 2017 22 November 2024
Monash University

Undergraduate - Unit

This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2015 only. For students planning to study the unit, please refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your course or area of study.

print version

6 points, SCA Band 2, 0.125 EFTSL

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.

LevelUndergraduate
FacultyFaculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences
Organisational UnitDepartment of Community Emergency Health and Paramedics
OfferedPeninsula First semester 2015 (Day)
Coordinator(s)Ms Chantal Perera

Synopsis

Paramedics encounter an abundance of pharmaceutical agents within their practice. This unit is designed to assist students to develop foundational knowledge, skills and clinical judgements regarding pharmacotherapy within community-based emergency health. The social, political, legal and ethical implications of drug use and abuse within the individual, family and community will also be examined.

Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this unit, students should be able to:

  1. Describe the basic principles of pharmacology, drug administration and monitoring as they relate to paramedic practice;
  2. Identify routes of administration, absorption rates and safe work practices as they relate to paramedic practice;
  3. Demonstrate proficiency in calculation of drug dosages for administration of medications by paramedics by a variety of routes;
  4. Describe the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of chemicals and substances introduced into the body;
  5. Examine legal responsibilities associated with the administration and safe keeping of drugs within paramedic practice;
  6. Discuss common pharmaceutical agents encountered within the pre-hospital setting;
  7. Analyse the social, political, cultural, legal and ethical implications of drug abuse in relation to legal and illegal drugs.

Assessment

Worksheet: Quizzes (15%)
Drug calculations exam (15%)
Written report (30%)
Final examination (40%)

Workload requirements

6 hours per week involving lectures, tutorials and practical exercises.

See also Unit timetable information

Chief examiner(s)

Ms Chantal Perera

This unit applies to the following area(s) of study

Emergency health

Co-requisites

Must be enrolled in course 3445.