Quality Use of Medicines (NURS90071)

Intended learning outcomes

On completion of the subject, students should be able to:

• Analyse the impact of medication use on population health outcomes with particular regard to the national health priorities, cost benefit ratio, ethics and the principles of quality use of medicines.
• Apply knowledge of basic science, pharmacokinetics and pharmacotherapeutics, best available evidence, and the principles of quality use of medicines to develop safe and effective therapeutic plans that address the consumer/patient's healthcare needs and agreed therapeutic goals.
• Partner with the consumer/patient and their family and collaborate with other healthcare professionals to identify therapeutic goals and a therapeutic plan that integrates best evidence, cost, access and respect for the consumer/patient's values and outcome goals.
• Communicate the therapeutic plan and educate the consumer/patient and, where appropriate their family, and other healthcare professionals regarding safe and effective use of medications.
• Monitor the impact of therapeutic plans on the agreed health outcomes of the individual and adjust plans accordingly and their impact on population outcomes.
• Identify measures employed to ensure safe and appropriate use of medications including drug development, drug trials and medication registration and regulation, medication reconciliation, antibiotic stewardship.
• Demonstrate ability to prescribe medications in accordance with State and Federal regulation, ethical principles, professional standards and competence.

Generic skills

• Capacity to work collaboratively with people from diverse communities to achieve goals
• Respectfully engages with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians to understand and incorporate indigenous ways of knowing
• Communicates to effectively gather and share essential information
• Capacity to use technology and online resources to support learning and innovation
• Uses analytic and decision-making skills and system-level thinking to identify and address challenges
• Effective time management skills for planning and completing work to deadline