Postgraduate - UnitPAR4410 - Foundations of pharmacotherapy and toxicology in emergency health

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.

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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.

Level	Postgraduate
Faculty	Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences
Organisational Unit	Department of Community Emergency Health and Paramedics
Offered	Alfred Hospital First semester 2015 (Online) Alfred Hospital Summer semester A 2015 (Online)
Coordinator(s)	Mr Nathan Stam

Synopsis

Paramedicine has a growing reliance on drug therapy as the primary intervention for most emergency situations. Patients receiving medication interventions are exposed to potential harm as well as benefits. This unit will challenge students to have a graduate understanding of the science of pharmacology to ensure that their patients are administered/prescribed the right medication, the correct dose and at the right time to achieve the desired therapeutic effect.

Outcomes

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

Describe fundamental principles of pharmacology;
Describe and explain the processes involved in pharmacokinetics along with factors that influence these processes;
Explain indications, actions, adverse reactions and contraindications for commonly prescribed medication;
Demonstrate clinical decision making ability relating to pharmacology within a paramedic context;
Provide appropriate education for patient based upon individual medication/drug regimes;
Describe and explain medication regimes for specific clinical conditions in the paramedic's of practice;
Describe legal, ethical and professional responsibilities associated with prescription and administration of drugs/medications in the paramedic's jurisdiction;
Critically analyse social and political factors that influence use of medications/drugs in the paramedic's jurisdiction.

Assessment

Concept map series (20%)
Evidence based practice forums (30%)
Final exam (MCQs / SAQs) (3 hours) (50%) (Hurdle)

Chief examiner(s)

Mr Nathan Stam

Off-campus attendance requirements

Students will be expected to complete at least 6 hours of internet learning or and a minimum of 6 hours of private study and self-directed learning per week. If completed on-campus sessions, students will be expected to attend the equivalent of 6 hours of lectures, seminars and tutorials per week and complete a minimum of 6 hours of self-directed learning.

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

Emergency health - paramedic practice

Co-requisites

Must be enrolled in courses 3876, 3877 or 3878.