Skip to main content
Unit of study_

NURS2005: Pharmacology and Therapeutics 2

Semester 2, 2022 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This is a multidisciplinary unit taught by the Sydney Pharmacy School. This unit builds on the foundations of pharmacology that were taught in NURS2001 Pharmacology and Therapeutics 1. The unit extends the fundamental pharmacological knowledge and concepts previously acquired to explore the use of pharmacotherapy and how drugs affect the body in health and disease across the lifespan.This unit will examine the use of therapeutic agents acting upon the central nervous, endocrine, cardiovascular and respiratory systems as well as exploring use of complementary therapies and recreational drugs. Throughout the unit students will consider the role of pharmacotherapy, the use of individual agents including mechanism of action, interactions, adverse reactions and practice principles associated with each agent in the nursing context. Students will be provided with an opportunity to apply the underlying principles of pharmacology to nursing practice. By integrating evidence-based pharmacological knowledge to case studies they will learn to optimise safe medication management.

Unit details and rules

Unit code NURS2005
Academic unit Pharmacy
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
36 credit points of 1000 level units and NURS2001
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Connie Van, connie.van@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Ronald Castelino, ronald.castelino@sydney.edu.au
Brent McParland, brent.mcparland@sydney.edu.au
Peter Carroll, peter.carroll@sydney.edu.au
Danijela Gnjidic, danijela.gnjidic@sydney.edu.au
Connie Van, connie.van@sydney.edu.au
Jonathon Arnold, jonathon.arnold@sydney.edu.au
Timothy Chen, timothy.chen@sydney.edu.au
Jonathan Penm, jonathan.penm@sydney.edu.au
Jane Hanrahan, jane.hanrahan@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Final exam (Record+) Type B final exam hurdle task Assessment 3: Final Exam
Short answer and case based questions
50% Formal exam period 80 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Small test hurdle task Assessment 1: MCQ Quiz
Multiple choice questions
20% Week 08 20 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO4
Small test hurdle task Assessment 2: Short Answer Quiz
Short answer questions
30% Week 10 30 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO4 LO3
hurdle task = hurdle task ?
Type B final exam = Type B final exam ?

Assessment summary

  • Assessmnt 1: Quiz 1 – multiple choice questions 
  • Assessment 2: Quiz 2 – short answer questions 
  • Assessment 3: Final exam – short answer and case based questions

Please note: Each student is required to submit/attend all assessment items in order to pass this unit. Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website  provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.  

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Intro / Fertility control Lecture (2 hr) LO1
Week 02 Diabetes Lecture (2 hr) LO1
Diabetes 1 Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO3 LO4
Week 03 Diabetes 2 Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO3 LO4
Histamine and antihistamines Lecture (1 hr) LO1
Week 04 Asthama and COPD / Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system / Hypertension 1 Lecture (3 hr) LO1
ANKI workshop Workshop (2 hr) LO1 LO4
Week 05 Hypertension 2 / Diuretics / Heart failure Lecture (3 hr) LO2
Week 06 Dyslipidaemia / Angina Lecture (3 hr) LO1
Respiratory Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO3 LO4
Week 07 Atrial fibrillation / Anticoagulants Lecture (2 hr) LO1
Week 08 Parkinson's disease / Antidepressants Lecture (2 hr) LO1
Cardiovascular 1 Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO3 LO4
Week 09 Pain and opioid analgesics Lecture (1 hr) LO1
Week 10 NSAIDs and paracetamol / Adverse drug reactions and interactions 1 Lecture (2 hr) LO1
Cardiovascular 2 Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO3 LO4
Week 11 Adverse drug reactions and interactions 2 + 3 / Complementary medicines 1 Lecture (3 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 12 Complementary medicines 2 / Recreational drugs 1 + 2 Lecture (3 hr) LO1 LO2
ADRs and drug interactions Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO3 LO4

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: The Sydney Nursing School Resolutions specifically outline attendance requirements. Resolution 7.2 states that if students are absent without leave for more than 10% of classes in a particular unit of study in any one semester, the Dean may call upon them to show cause why they should not be deemed to have failed that unit of study. 

It is expected that all students participate and fully engage in the content of this unit of study by attending lectures, tutorials and laboratories, being prepared for tutorials and laboratories, contributing to discussions in class and online, and providing and receiving feedback in a respectful and dignified manner.

Students must also attend 100% of all clinical simulation laboratories (CSL) and off campus clinical, which are supplemented with online and group activities.

Referencing style: The Sydney Nursing School has adopted the American Psychological Association (APA) Referencing style, 7th Edition, 2020 as its official referencing style. This is an author-date style of referencing.

Assignment formatting guidelines: Unless the unit coordinator has indicated otherwise, please make sure your submitted assessments are formatted as follows:

  • font: use Calibri or Times New Roman in 11 - 12 point
  • double line spacing
  • margins: 2.5cm each side
  • use page numbers
  • refer to assessment instructions for use of title and headings

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Please see canvas site for compulsory and optional readings.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. demonstrate an understanding of how drugs affect the body in health and disease in conditions affecting the central nervous, endocrine, cardiovascular and respiratory systems.
  • LO2. demonstrate an understanding of the use of complementary and recreational drugs and some of the issues associated with their use.
  • LO3. integrate evidence-based pharmacological knowledge to case studies, involving patients with complex pathologies, in ways which optimises quality use of medicines.
  • LO4. critically evaluate evidence-based drug information sources with respect to their quality and relevance in informing decision making in nursing.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

In response to student feedback, the exam preparation workshop is now offered earlier in the semester.

Sensitive materials in teaching: Please note that in this Unit of Study sensitive and potentially distressing or disturbing content might be presented and/or discussed from time to time. This may include reference to for example, discrimination, assault, suicide, illness, death and dying or culturally sensitive issues. These topics are relevant to your learning and your knowledge and skill development for nursing practice.

You will be advised before the information/topic is presented. If you are participating in the teaching session/activity online, you are advised to use headphones and ensure that anyone not participating in the session cannot see images that you may be watching on your device. If the nature of the content makes you feel uncomfortable or distressed, it is important that you contact the unit coordinator or another member of the academic team to discuss this with them. 

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.