RAB2100 Pharmacology and Medication Management Course description

The pharmacology course deals with drugs’ mechanisms of action and effects on the body (pharmacodynamics) and with what happens to a drug from when it enters the body until it has left it (pharmacokinetics). The course covers the most important groups of pharmaceuticals, including contrast agents used for diagnostic imaging examinations and treatment, the administration of drugs, including calculations, management and documentation, as well as applicable laws and regulations.

Passed first year of the programme or equivalent.

After completing the course, the student should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence: 

Knowledge 

The student can

• explain different forms of medication, routes of administration, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics
• refer to relevant legislation and regulations for medication management, including guidelines for documentation, handling of non-conformities and disposal
• describe important drugs in relation to pain, anxiety, emergencies, infections, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, and special drugs used for diagnostic imaging and treatment
• describe the key concepts in drug calculations

Skills

The student can

• explain and perform procedures for administration of medication
• carry out independent and faultless calculations of drug dosages, quantities and strengths for different routes of administration
• use international standards and systems of units in drug calculations
• calculate injection and infusion rates (drops/min and ml/hr)
• assess and check both their own and other people's calculations 

General competence  

The student can

• communicate correct information about the use and side effects of medication to other health care professionals and next of kin, and identify risk factors in connection with the use of contrast agents and other relevant drugs

The work and teaching methods include flipped classroom, lectures, seminars, skills training and self-study. In seminars, the students work in groups.

The following must have been approved in order for the student to take the exam: 

• a minimum attendance of 80% at scheduled seminars and skills training sessions
• an individual written drug calculation test in accordance with set criteria

Combined assessment:

Part 1: Drug calculation: Supervised individual written exam, 3 hours. To pass the exam, the student must submit a faultless exam paper.

Part 2: Pharmacology: Supervised individual written exam, 2 hours.

Students must pass both parts of the exam in order to pass the course.

Resits/rescheduled exam: If a student fails one part of the exam, he/she must retake the part in question.

Part 1) Calculator provided by the universit.

Part 2) No aids permitted.

Pass/fail

Part 1: An internal examiner will assess all answer papers.

Part 2: All exam papers are assessed by two examiners. At least 15 % of the exams will be assessed by an external examiner. The external examiner's assessment should benefit all students.