Quality Use of Medicines (NURS90071)

Intended learning outcomes

This subject extends students' knowledge of social, political and ethical principles of medication management, and allows the student to explore how these principles are applied in the advanced practice setting. The concepts of pain management, adverse drug reactions and medication use across the lifespan will be considered. Students will individualise the use of the clinical decision making process as the framework for gathering and organising medication information, planning, prescribing, administering, documenting and evaluation to suit their own practice needs. Students will extend their knowledge of the learning and teaching strategies for patient education and the government policies that are relevant to nurse prescribing. Commonwealth and State laws affecting the control of medication will also be applied to the advanced practice setting. Students will also address the socio-cultural and ethical issues that affect the relationship between the nurse practitioner and the patient, and will examine the style and required particulars for written prescriptions. Equipped with this knowledge, students will be expected to critically review the application of clinical pharmacology to their specific area of advanced practice and will undergo a formal assessment of a patient/client medication consultation.

Generic skills

On completion of this subject students will be able to:

• demonstrate comprehensive written and oral skills necessary to critically analyse the conceptual underpinnings of medication management in the advanced practice setting
• critically appraise and challenge medication management according to principles of clinical decision making
• demonstrate applied knowledge of Commonwealth and State laws as a means for evidence based practice and health policy
• use well developed problem solving and critical thinking skills in medication management for paediatric and geriatric populations
• critically evaluate medication orders for patients in the advanced practice setting
• demonstrate knowledge of applied pharmacology as a vehicle for research, evidence based practice and policy development in the advanced practice setting