The course on Pharmacotherapeutics is designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the principles governing the use of medications in healthcare. In Unit 1, the focus is on introducing the fundamental concepts, including the distinctions between therapeutics and pharmacology, the approval process for drugs, and the crucial role nurses play in ensuring safety. Unit 2 delves into Pharmacokinetics I, exploring how drugs move within the body, covering absorption, metabolism, distribution, and excretion. Unit 3 extends this discussion, addressing drug distribution, excretion processes, therapeutic ranges, and the difference between loading and maintenance doses. Unit 4 focuses on Pharmacodynamics, emphasizing patient variability in drug responses, the therapeutic index, dose-response relationships, and the concepts of potency and efficacy. The course concludes with Unit 5, examining drug administration throughout the lifespan, including the impact of physiological changes on drug response during pregnancy, lactation, pediatric, and geriatric stages. Throughout the course, practical activities and exercises enhance understanding, and the relevance of pharmacogenomics and personalized medicine is explored. Overall, the course equips nurses with the knowledge needed for safe and effective medication administration in diverse clinical scenarios.
The following topics will be covered and these
include: person-centred moments and person-centred care, transformational
culture through emancipatory practice development which focuses
on both getting evidence into practice and creating a culture of innovation and
effectiveness. Changes in culture of care and context: engagement,
autonomy and connectedness and develop culture of effectiveness in a workplace,
evidence- based practice and knowledge translation, enabling and sustainability change, skills
improvement, safety of care and effectiveness, quality improvement process audit and
quality measures shall also be covered.