The Fundamental Principles of Drug Actions;
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Field name / Comments/notes
Title / Introduction to Pharmacokinetics for Health Care Professionals
Code / NI106
Level / 4
Credit rating / 10 level 4 credits
Pre-requisites / Normal entry criteria for level 4 study.
Type of module / The administration of drugs to patients/clients is an essential part of the role and responsibility of the nurse and midwife. Together with the introduction of nurse prescribing it is therefore essential that they have a good understanding of the drugs that are in common use within their field of practice.
Aims / To give the student a basic understanding of the mechanisms of drug action and interaction.
Learning outcomes/objectives / To demonstrate an understanding of :
- the fundamental principles of drug actions;
- absorption of drugs from different routes of administration;
- drug distribution within the body and passage across membranes;
- drug metabolism, inhibition and stimulation;
- drug elimination;
- mechanisms of drug interaction.
Content /
- Routes of drug administration
- Drug action in relation to the routes of administration
- Drug calculations
- Drug metabolism in relation to the body systems, inhibition and stimulation
- Drug elimination via lungs, kidneys and bile
- Drug interactions and the clinical significance
- Legal aspects of drug storage, administration and disposal.
Teaching and learning strategies / Lectures, worksheets and seminars.
Learning support / This will be provided from the module team.
Indicative Reading:
Downie, Get al. 1999. Pharmacology and Drug Management for Nurses. 2nd ed. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone.
Galbraith, A. et al. 1999. Fundamentals of pharmacology. A text for Nurses and Health Professionals. Essex: Addison Wesley Longman Ltd.
Lippincott's Illustrated Reviews. London: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Mycek, R. et al. 2000. Pharmacology. 2nd ed. London: Mosby.
Neal, M.J. 1997. Medical Pharmacology at a glance. 3rd ed. London: Blackwell Science.
Rang, H.P. et al. 1995. Pharmacology 3rd ed. London: Churchill Livingstone.
Trounce, J. R. 2000. Clinical Pharmacology for Nurses, 16th ed. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone
UKCC. 2000. Guidelines for the administration of medicines. London: UKCC.
Assessment tasks / Students will be required to undertake a literature review and present findings to their peers of one drug, commonly used in their specialist area. The student will be required to demonstrate knowledge of the routes of administration, indications for use, contraindications, effects and side effects of the drug. The presentation will comprise of 25% of the marks whilst the 1000 word essay will comprise of 75% of the marks. The marks will be aggregated to give a final mark/ grade.
Brief description of module content and/or aims / This module will provide the student with basic knowledge of the mechanisms of drug interactions and of drugs commonly used within their sphere of practice.
Area examination board to which module relates / BSc (Hons) Nursing
Module team / Isa Stackpoole, Patrick Saintas, Terry Stubbings, John Ford, Di Smith
Semester offered / 2
Timetable slots / Tuesday 10-12
Site where delivered / Eastbourne
Date of first approval / 19/3/97
Date of last revision / N/A
Date of approval of this version / 4/3/02
Version number / 2
Replacement for previous module
Field for which module is acceptable and status in that field / Nursing - Optional
Midwifery - Compulsory
Course(s) for which module is acceptable and status in course / BSc(Hons) Nursing.
Dip. Nursing & Midwifery
Departmental home / InaM
External examiner / Bryan Savage
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