Course Title: Administer and monitor medicines and intravenous therapy

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2021

Course Code: NURS5383C

Course Title: Administer and monitor medicines and intravenous therapy

Important Information:

This course is not offered as a stand alone short course. 

To be enrolled in this course, you must be enrolled in the Diploma of Nursing.

School: 174T School of VE Engineering, Health & Science

Campus: City Campus

Program: C5365 - Diploma of Nursing

Course Contact: Rosemarie Russell

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 7478

Course Contact Email: rosemarie.russell@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Lee Vaessen

lee.vaessen@rmit.edu.au

Nominal Hours: 250

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

There are no pre-requisites for this unit of competency.

Course Description

This course describes the skills and knowledge required to administer and monitor medications and intravenous (IV) therapy including calculating dosage requirements, interpreting written instructions from an authorised prescriber, assessing the person for medication effectiveness and side effects, and responding to an allergic pharmacological reaction.

 

This course applies to enrolled nursing work carried out in consultation and collaboration with registered nurses and under supervisory arrangements aligned to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia regulatory authority legislative requirements.

 

This course includes a Work Integrated Learning experience in which your knowledge and skills will be applied and assessed in a real or simulated workplace context and where feedback from industry and/or community is integral to your experience.


This course includes clinical placement.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

HLTENN007 Administer and monitor medicines and intravenous therapy

Element:

1. Minimise potential risk to ensure safe administration of medications.

Performance Criteria:

1.1 Refer to drugs and poisons schedules and classifications as determined by law. 1.2 Identify the purpose and function of prescribed medicine and intravenous (IV) therapy. 1.3 Identify pharmacology and substance incompatibilities in relation to specific situations involving medication administration, blood and blood products.

Element:

2. Prepare for medication administration and infusion of IV fluids.

Performance Criteria:

2.1 Explain the process of medication administration or IV fluid infusion to the person, and ensure their readiness and understanding. 2.2 Identify correct administration route or site for each medication or IV fluid to be administered, and position the person appropriately. 2.3 Consider the effect of commonly used medications and IV fluids on the body before medication administration and IV infusion. 2.4 Calculate accurate dosages and IV infusion rates for administration of drugs. 2.5 Prepare medications in accordance with legislative and jurisdictional requirements and organisation policy and procedures. 2.6 Identify medication administration techniques and precautions specific to the person's situation and as per medication orders. 2.7 Prepare blood and blood products for blood transfusions according to organisation policy and procedures.

Element:

3. Administer and store medication.

Performance Criteria:

3.1 Administer medication or IV fluid to the person applying the 'Rights of Medication' concept and in accordance with the jurisdictional and legislative requirements and organisation policy and procedures. 3.2 Secure medications in a safe manner during medication administration. 3.3 Apply quality practices in management and use of medications, and undertake risk assessment practices that relate to medication administration. 3.4 Report to the registered nurse a person's refusal of medication or IV therapy or suspected incomplete medication ingestion. 3.5 Ensure medication and blood and blood products are stored, handled and disposed of according to organisation policy and procedures and manufacturers' instructions.

Element:

4. Monitor and evaluate a person's response to administered medication, IV fluids and blood and blood products.

Performance Criteria:

4.1 Document and monitor observations of the person's response and whether intended outcome of administered medications, IV fluids and blood and blood products is achieved. 4.2 Recognise, record and report acute and delayed adverse reactions of the person to medications, and implement emergency actions within own role responsibility. 4.3 Record, report and evaluate fluid and electrolyte imbalances, and monitor the effect on the person of medicines commonly administered with IV fluids. 4.4 Remove IV cannula according to organisation policy and procedures 4.5 Provide educative information to the person, their family or carer concerning the administration of medicines including possible side effects.

Element:

5. Assess effectiveness of pain-relieving therapy.

Performance Criteria:

5.1 Observe and question the person to identify signs of pain or discomfort. 5.2 Clarify the location and nature of pain or discomfort, taking into account factors that may influence the person's perception of pain. 5.3 Ensure consistency in interpreting observations and evaluating the person's pain using the pain assessment scale. 5.4 Identify a range of prescribed medications and complementary strategies that may assist in alleviating pain and discomfort. 5.5 Assess and manage effectiveness of pain-relieving medication and non-medication therapies for the person experiencing pain. 5.6 Record observations of the person and own evaluation the effectiveness of pain management strategies


Learning Outcomes



Details of Learning Activities

The Blended Learning approach for this unit includes:

  • Face to face teaching and activities  (online)
  • Lab practical sessions - including simulated patients and environment
  • Self directed learning and 
  • Clinical placement


Teaching Schedule

Week

Teaching Schedule

Week 1 

Lesson 1, 2, LAB 1

Legislation related to medication administration

Overview of assessments

Codes and Standards of practice for EN

Therapeutic Good administration

Nation inpatient medication chart

Medication Errors

Incident reporting of medication errors

 

Routes of adminsitration

Reasons for adminsitration

Enteral vs parenteral 

Granules, lozenges, Mixtures, suspensions

Buccal vs sublingual

Medication for eyes and ears

Rectal and vaginal medication

Week 2 

Lesson 3,4

 Basic maths revision

Terminology, abbreviations, symbols related to medication orders

Oral medication formulas

 

History of pharmacology

Pharmacokinetics vs Pharmacodynamics

Pharmaceutics

Agonist vs antagnist

Week 3

Lesson 5, lab 2

Common drugs acting on respiratory system

Understanding cOPD and asthma medications 

Bronchodilators, corticosteroids and inhalers

Nursing observations for respiratory patients

Patient education for medication related to respiratory system

Week 4

lab3, Lesson 6

Cardiovascular medication - indications for use

Nursing manangement of cardiovascular patients

Patient reducation related to cardiovascular medications

Review of the cardiovascular system

Week 5

Lesson 7

Antianginal medications

Rationales for using GTN

Nursing internvetions required when adminsitering antiagninals

Coronary artery disease

Medication to reduce hyperlipaemia

Patient education required for cholerstol lowering medications 

Week 6

Lesson 8, 9

Antiplatelets medications

Review of clotting and coagulation

Haemostasis

Preventing venous clots

 

Anticoagulants 

Thrombolytic medications

Blood tests for anticoagulants

Patient safety and education for anticoagulant adminsitration 

Week 8

Lesson 10

Parenteral medications

Commonly adminsitered SC and IM medications

Aseptic techniqe

Use of pre-filled syringes

Appropriate sites for SC and IM injections

Equipment required for SC and IM medication administration

Safe disposal of sharps

Week 9

Lab 4+5, Lesson 11

Anaesthetic agents

General anaesthetics

Regional anaesthetics

Local anaesthetics

Drugs that paralyse the skeletal muscles

Medications used to reduce awareness

Week 10

Lesson 12, 13

Review of diabetes

Oral hypoglycaemics

Insulin

Insulin pump therapy

Glucose

 

CCF

Medications affecting heart function

Inotropes related to cardiac contractility

Vasopressors

Cardiac Glycosides

Week 11

Lesson 14

Medications affecting GIT

Functions of GIT

Gastric acid

Conditions affecting stomach acid secretion

Antacids

PPIs

Week 12

Lesson 15, lab 6

Types of Pain

Pain assessment

Pain management

Pharmacological and non pharmacological pain management  

Week 13

Lesson 16

Microorganisms

MC+S

Gram staining

Antibiotics

Antibiotic resistance

CRE


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References


Other Resources


Pharmacology in Nursing Australian & New Zealand 3rd Edition

By: Bonita BroylesBarry ReissMary EvansGayle McKenzieSussan Pleunik     Published: 4th October 2019 ISBN: 9780170421850

Havard's Nursing Guide to Drugs

10th Edition

By: Adriana Tiziani  

Published: 5th July 2017
ISBN: 9780729542548

 

Nursing Calculations

9th Edition

By: Nicole PhillipsJohn Gatford  

Published: 9th August 2016
ISBN: 9780702062315




 


Overview of Assessment

This assessment will incorporate a variety of methods including written, oral, practical tasks and activities.

 

You will be asked to personally demonstrate to your teacher/assessor the practical skills gained during this course to the relevant industry standards. Assessment activities will occur throughout this course and feedback will be provided at regular intervals

 

Students must pass each of the assessment tasks to demonstrate competence.

 

 


Assessment Tasks

 ASSESSMENT TASK 1  Medication Calculations Assessment
 ASSESSMENT TASK 2  Medication Knowledge Assessment
 ASSESSMENT TASK 3  Online Quiz
 ASSESSMENT TASK 4  Simulated LAB Assessment  Part A(GIT, topical)  Part B (SC/IM)
 ASSESSMENT TASK 5 Clinical Placement (sub acute)
 ASSESSMENT TASK 6 IV Calculations Assessment
 ASSESSMENT TASK 7 IV Knowledge Assessment
 ASSESSMENT TASK 8 Simulated LAB assessment: IVT Med, Gravity, Blood
 ASSESSMENT TASK 9 Clinical Placement (Acute)

 


Assessment Matrix

Course Overview: Access Course Overview