Level/category

General studies

Teaching language

English

Type of course

Compulsory

Cycle/level of course

First

Recommended year of study

1

Total number of ECTS

5 cr

Competency aims

The main aim of the course is that the students have a basic knowledge in medication administration and good skills in dosage calculation. In this course the contextual and clinical caring and medical competence is developed.

Learning outcomes

After completion of the course the students
- understand medication administration in patient care as a unity consisting of many different areas - ethics, law, anatomy and physiology, pharmacology and mathematics
- know the different forms of drugs and how they are administered. Furthermore, how the different types of drugs act in the human body
- know the steps in the medication process and acknowledge the importance of being part of the development of this process
- Know what is safe pharmacotherapy, good practices in medication administration and how these are linked to patient safety
- are aware of their responsibility and know how to act according to current regulations
- master the terminology used un pharmacotherapy and the dosage calculations needed to ensure patient safety
- are able to meet the special need of the ageing patient and guide them in questions concerning their medication
- are aware of the importance to create a patient safety promoting culture

Course contents

Introduction, presentation of content and literature
Definitions and important concepts
How drugs act in the human body,
Administering drug, different forms of drugs
Labels, Prescriptions
Introduction till Pharmaca Fennica,
Giving medication to the patient
The medication process
Safe pharmacotherapy, patient safety
Safe pharmacotherapy, national guidelines
Nurses rights to administer drugs
Adverse effects,
Drugs in the elderly
Study visit to a pharmacy
Dosage calculation, Work shops 1-6

Prescriptions, Patient safety, The process of giving medication, Safe Pharmacotherapy, national handbook, The responsibility of the nurse
Adverse effects, Abuse and misuse of drugs

Prescriptions, Patient safety, The process of giving medication, Safe Pharmacotherapy, national handbook, The responsibility of the nurse continuing...
Drugs in the elderly,
Exam
The exam includes of two parts: A theoretical part and a part with dosage calculation. The theoretical part is graded with grades 1-5. The calculation part includes ten problems and has a zero tolerance for errors. The calculation part is graded accomplished or not accomplished. Use of calculator is not permitted.

Prerequisites and co-requisites

Basic mathematics
Anatomy and physiology

Recommended or required reading

Ernvall S. m.fl. 2005. Lääkelaskenta. WSOY.. Porvoo. ISBN 951-0-30244-9

Evans J. 2009. Prevalence, risk factorHartikainen, S. 2000. Fallgropar i medicineringen av äldre. Sairaanhoitaja Sjuksköterskan 8(73), s. 38 39. s, consequences and strategies for reducing medication errors in Australian hospitals: A literature review. Contemporary Nurse (2009) 31:176-189.
Gatford J.D. & Philips N. 2008. Nursing calculation. Churchill Livingstone USA. ISBN 978 0 443 10288 2.

Larsen P. 1999. Polypharmacy and elderly patients. AORN Journal 69 (3), s. 619-628.

Lilley L.L., Harrington S. & Snyder J.S. 2011. Pharmacology and the Nursing Process. Mosby Canada.

Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. 2009. Safe pharmacotherapy, National guide for Pharmacotherapy in Social and Health Care. Publications of Ministry of Social Affairs and
Health 2009:10.

Saano S. & Taam-Ukkonen M. 2013. Lääkehoidon käsikirja. SanomaPro. Helsinki.

Current articles

Articles:

Books in dosage calculation:
Ernvall Sirpa, Pulli Antero, Salonen Anne-Marie, Nurminen Marja-Leena, Kaukkila Hanna-Sisko, 2006. Läkemedelsräkning. Utbildningsstyrelsen 2006 . ISBN 952-13-2734-0.
alternative
Ernvall S. m.fl. 2005. Lääkelaskenta. WSOY.. Porvoo. ISBN 951-0-30244-9

Current articles

Mode of Delivery

Participation in tuition

Assessment methods

Exams (written-, oral-, home-)

Assessment requirements

To pass the course the student should pass the following examinations:
1. Exam with a theoretical part
2. Dosage calculation with 10 problems without calculator.
The theoretical part is graded with grades 1-5. The calculation part includes ten problems and has a zero tolerance for errors. The calculation part is graded accomplished or not accomplished. Use of calculator is not permitted.
The final grade is the grade the student has got in the theoretical part. scores in exam: maximum 35p. Grade satisfactory (1,2)17-20p=1, 21-24p=2
Grade good (3,4) 25-28p=3, 29-32p=4 Grade excellent (5) 33-35p. The part not accomplished can be separately retaken. In the first exam the parts are taken separately. The re-exams with both parts are a joint exam.
When the student has completed this course she/he has to do a dosage calculation exam every semester. This exam contains five problems. To get the mark accomplished all five answers have to be correct. The students need in their transcript five semester exams with five problems.In the semester exam students are allowed to use a calculator.

Teacher

  • Dahl Birgitta
  • Skogster Annika

Examiner

Dahl Birgitta

Group size

No limit

Assignments valid until

Until date 2014-12-20

The timetable of the course

Course contents and schedule
18.3. 2014 13.00-16.15 (2h)
Introduction, presentation of content and literature.
Definitions and important concepts
How drugs act in the human body.
Administering drugs, different forms of drugs
25.3.2014 12.15-15.30 (4h)
Labels, Prescriptions
Giving medication to the patient, patient safety.
Patient safety, safe pharmacotherapy
Introduction to the Confidence project

26.3.2014 13.00-15.00 Dosage calculation, Workshop1
Introduction to dosage calculation,
Tablets and suppositories prescribed in g, mg or µg (microgram, mcg), Fluid oral medication (oral liquid, oral suspension, mixture and drops),

1.4.2014 13.00-16.15 (4h)
Safe pharmacotherapy, national guidelines. The medication process.
Nurses rights to administer drugs. Other professional’s rights to administer medication.
3.4. 2014 10.00-11.30 Dosage calculation, Workshop 2
Drug dosages for injection (injectable solutions).
Drugs in per cent
Duration of ordered drugs,
15.4.2014 13.00-16.15
Introduction till Pharmaca Fennica, Lääketietokeskus lääkeinfo, Sfinx.
Adverse effects, allergic reactions.
Medication passport
23.4.2014 10.00-12.00 Dosage calculation, Workshop 3
Drugs ordered in international units, IU
Infusions

23.4.2014 13.00-16.15 (2h) Drugs in the elderly, repetition
24.4.2014 10.00-12.00 Dosage calculation, Workshop 4
Drugs ordered per weight,
24.4.2014 13.00-14.30 Remedial classes in dosage calculation
29.4.2014 13.00-14.30 (2h) Dosage calculation, Workshop 5
Dilutions
29.4.2014 14.30-16.00 (2h) Remedial classes in dosage calculation
6.5.2014 13.00-14.30 (2h) Dosage calculation, Workshop 6
Dilutions
6.5.2014 14.30-16.00 Remedial classes in dosage calculation
13.5.2014 13.00-14.30 Dosage calculation, Remedial classes
20.5.2014 9.00-11.00 Exam, THEORY PART re-exam next academic year
21.5.2014 13.00-15.00 Exam, CALCULATION PART re-exam next academic year

Assessment methods

2014-05-21 - Exams

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