RAB2100 Pharmacology and Medication Management Course description

Language of instruction: Norwegian 

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. RAB1050 is exempt from the progression requirement.

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 diagnostic imaging and treatment
• describe the key concepts in drug calculations

Skills

The student can

• 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

• provide accurate medication information to healthcare professionals, patients, and next of kin, as well as identify risk factors associated with the use of contrast agents and other relevant medications.

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 part 1: Drug calculation: 

• an individual written drug calculation test in accordance with set criteria 

The following must have been approved in order for the student to take the exam part 2: Pharmacology:

• a minimum attendance of 80% at scheduled seminars and skills training sessions

Combined assessment:

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

Part 2: Pharmacology: Supervised individual written exam (multiple choice), 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 university.

Part 2) No aids permitted.

Pass/fail

Part 1: All answers are assessed by one internal examiner.

Part 2: All answers are assessed by one internal examiner.

The assessment scheme is evaluated regularly. An external programme supervisor participates in the evaluation and provides advice on further quality work in the study programme.

1 ECTS overlap with RADME and 0,5 ECTS overlap with RAD2000.