Students will learn the statutes regulating drug care. They will comprehend their responsibility as nurses/public health nurses in handling drugs and administering drug care. They will learn the various forms of medicines, the routes of administering them and take responsibility for handling drugs carefully and correctly. Students will also learn to calculate dosages correctly.
Student's Workload
Will be announced at the beginning of the course.
Prerequisites / Recommended Optional Courses
No previous studies are required.
Contents
Legislation pertaining to drug care. Risks in drug care. Forms of drugs, handling medicines and routes of medication. Administeration of medicines. Documentation.
Using the Pharmaca Fennica. Pharmacological services. Drug calculations.
Recommended or Required Reading
Nurminen M.-L. 2006. Lääkehoito. 7th edition. WSOY. (assigned chapters) Lääkelaki (amended) Ministry of Health and Welfare. 2006. Turvallinen lääkehoito.
Ernvall S. et al. 2005. Lääkelaskenta. 5th edition. WSOY.
Other material selected by the lecturer.
Mode of Delivery / Planned Learning Activities and Teaching Methods
Lectures, mathematics for drug care, drug calculations,practising drug administration during calculation lessons. Introduction of the student's drug care skills card (to be complemented throughout the degree programme), independent study
Assessment Criteria
Grading will be announced during the course.
Assessment Methods
Active participation. Theory: exam in which 50 % of the contents must be correct and each question passed (numerical grade). Calculations: exam completed without mistakes.
The exam on drug calculations must be passed before the practical training in basic nursing skills.