CQUniversity Unit Profile
PMSC13003 Pharmacology in Paramedic Practice
Pharmacology in Paramedic Practice
All details in this unit profile for PMSC13003 have been officially approved by CQUniversity and represent a learning partnership between the University and you (our student).
The information will not be changed unless absolutely necessary and any change will be clearly indicated by an approved correction included in the profile.
General Information

Overview

You will develop an understanding of pharmacotherapy in paramedic practice through investigation of the appropriate use of pharmacological interventions in patient management. You will develop knowledge of specific medications common to patients requiring care by paramedics, as well as skills to calculate medication dosages through a series of coursework and case management exercises.

Details

Career Level: Undergraduate
Unit Level: Level 3
Credit Points: 6
Student Contribution Band: 8
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.125

Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

Pre requisites: PMSC12001 Procedures and Skills in Paramedic Care and Co requisites: PHRM19001 Pharmacology and Toxicology or BMSC13010 Pharmacology

Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).

Offerings For Term 1 - 2017

Distance
Rockhampton

Attendance Requirements

All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).

Class and Assessment Overview

Recommended Student Time Commitment

Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.

Class Timetable

Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton, Townsville
Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Assessment Overview

1. Presentation and Written Assessment
Weighting: 50%
2. Online Quiz(zes)
Weighting: 25%
3. Online Quiz(zes)
Weighting: 25%

Assessment Grading

This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.

Previous Student Feedback

Feedback, Recommendations and Responses

Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.

Feedback from Student feedback

Feedback

The use of learning tools, such as scenario-based learning, which shows students the relevance of this unit for paramedic practice

Recommendation

Continue to review and incorporate practical examples of the application of pharmacology in paramedic practice.

Feedback from Student feedback

Feedback

Assessments are good learning tools

Recommendation

Continue to review assessments to maintain balance and challenge students in application of their learning.

Feedback from Student feedback

Feedback

Lectures based upon drug therapy protocols - could just read it for themselves

Recommendation

A range of other learning tools to assist student learning to support the lectures have been developed - if the lectures are viewed in isolation this is fair and reasonable feedback. While one of the key undertakings of this unit is to orientate students to drug therapy protocols, a review with a view to incorporate more contextualisation into the drug therapy protocol lectures is recommended.

Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. Describe the indications, pharmacokinetics, actions, routes of administration, contraindications, side effects and precautions of medications and fluids administered by paramedics, and how you would evaluate the effects of administration
  2. Correctly calculate drug doses for the administration of paramedic medications
  3. Discuss the implications of renal or hepatic dysfunction, pregnancy and extremes of age on drug administration in the paramedic context
  4. Research and justify the most effective pharmacological treatment options in the pre-hospital context.

1. The educational institution must demonstrate it has developed a paramedic education course that provides students with the educational base for a graduate appropriate to the level of qualification to be attained, the specified level of competence to meet the requirements for employment as an entry level paramedic.

2. The educational course / curriculum requirements for work readiness must be determined by the curriculum / course development committee through consultation with all major stakeholders in particular, the principal ambulance services in Australia and New Zealand represented by the CAA.

3. The educational couse / curriculum requirements to meet the work readiness requirements of the principal ambulance services in Australia and NZ and should be reviewed on a regular basis as part of a formal paramedic education course review process.

4. Given the complex nature of out of hospital, unscheduled care and the diversity of health care situations encountered, Paramedics must be well educated, skilled and knowledgeable practitioners in a range of subjects and be able to appraise and adopt an enquiry-based approach to the delivery of care

5. Paramedic education courses should produce graduates with an educational base and attributes appropriate to the level of qualification attained and specified level of competence required. These objectives and attributes must be clearly described for each course being assessed.

Alignment of Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Graduate Attributes
N/A Level
Introductory Level
Intermediate Level
Graduate Level
Professional Level
Advanced Level

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes

Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4
1 - Presentation and Written Assessment - 50%
2 - Online Quiz(zes) - 25%
3 - Online Quiz(zes) - 25%

Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes

Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4
1 - Communication
2 - Problem Solving
3 - Critical Thinking
4 - Information Literacy
5 - Team Work
6 - Information Technology Competence
7 - Cross Cultural Competence
8 - Ethical practice
9 - Social Innovation
10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes

Assessment Tasks Graduate Attributes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
1 - Presentation and Written Assessment - 50%
2 - Online Quiz(zes) - 25%
3 - Online Quiz(zes) - 25%
Textbooks and Resources

Textbooks

Prescribed

Pharmacology for Health Professionals

Edition: 4th (2015)
Authors: Bryant, BJ and Knights, KM
Elsevier
Chatswood Chatswood , NSW , Australia
ISBN: 978-0-7295-4170-1
Binding: Paperback

Additional Textbook Information

Students are encouraged to access the student resources through Evolve Learning System (access details in the front of the textbook) to facilitate their learning in this unit.


IT Resources

You will need access to the following IT resources:
  • CQUniversity Student Email
  • Internet
  • Unit Website (Moodle)
  • Access to eMIMS through the university library Paramedic Science Resource Guide
  • Access to podcasts, audio files & videos as they appear on the unit Moodle page
  • Access to Zoom (session log-in details will be provided)
  • Optional access to textbook student resources through Evolve (information in front of prescribed text)
Referencing Style

All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)

For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.

Teaching Contacts
Kirsty Shearer Unit Coordinator
k.shearer@cqu.edu.au
Schedule
Week 1 Begin Date: 06 Mar 2017

Module/Topic

Dosage measurements and calculations & review of drug pharmacokinetics & legal & ethical considerations

Chapter

Text - Chapter 1 – dosage measurements and calculations (p21-30)

Text - Chapter 6 – drug absorption, distribution, metabolism & excretion (p141-161)


Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 2 Begin Date: 13 Mar 2017

Module/Topic

The essentials

Oxygen

Sodium chloride 0.9%

Water for injection

The home pharmacy…

Street drugs

Chapter

QAS DTP's: oxygen, sodium chloride 0.9%, water for injection

Text - Chapter 28 – pp 605-608

ARC Guideline 11.6.1

Text - Chapter 21 - pp 440-483

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 3 Begin Date: 20 Mar 2017

Module/Topic

Special Considerations

Pregnancy

Paediatrics

Geriatrics

Renal failure

Hepatic dysfunction

The effects of shock

Chapter

Chapter 9 pp 189-202

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 4 Begin Date: 27 Mar 2017

Module/Topic

Analgesics

Fentanyl

Methoxyflurane

Morphine

Paracetamol

Chapter

QAS DTP's - fentanyl, methoxyflurane, morphine, paracetamol

Text - Chapter 15, fentanyl p324, methoxyflurane p38, 284, morphine p322, paracetamol p67, 329

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 5 Begin Date: 03 Apr 2017

Module/Topic

Adrenaline

Box jellyfish antivenom

Ceftriaxone

Droperidol

Chapter

QAS DTP's - adrenaline, box jellyfish antivenom, ceftriaxone, droperidol

Text - adrenaline p235-241 (including review of SNS), box jellyfish antivenom p1088-9, ceftriaxone p931-3, droperidol p388-9

Events and Submissions/Topic

Presentation and Written Assessment Due: Week 5 Friday (7 Apr 2017) 11:45 pm AEST
Vacation Week Begin Date: 10 Apr 2017

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 6 Begin Date: 17 Apr 2017

Module/Topic

Drugs affecting clotting

ANTI-PLATELETS

Aspirin

Clopidogrel

Ticagrelor

ANTI-COAGULANTS

Enoxaparin

Heparin

FIBRINOLYTICS

Tenecteplase

Chapter

QAS DTP's - aspirin, clopidogrel, ticagrelor, enoxaparin, heparin, tenecteplase

Text - aspirin p329-330, clopidogrel & ticagrelor p585, enoxaparin p578, heparin p577, tenecteplase p586

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 7 Begin Date: 24 Apr 2017

Module/Topic

Glucagon

Glucose gel

Glucose 10%

Chapter

QAS DTP's - glucagon, glucose gel, glucose 10%

Text - glucagon p764

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 8 Begin Date: 01 May 2017

Module/Topic

Glyceryl trinitrate

Hydrocortisone

Hydroxocabalamin

Ipratropium bromide

Chapter

QAS DTP's - glyceryl trinitrate, hydrocortisone, hydroxocabalamin, ipratropium bromide

Text - glyceryl trinitrate p513-518 (including review of vascular smooth muscle), hydrocortisone p745-749, ipratropium bromide p615

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 9 Begin Date: 08 May 2017

Module/Topic

Lignocaine 1%

Magnesium sulphate

Midazolam

Naloxone

Chapter

QAS DTP's - lignocaine 1%, magnesium sulphate, midazolam, naloxone

Text - lignocaine 1% p295, magnesium sulphate p1089, midazolam p347, naloxone p328

Events and Submissions/Topic

Online Quiz(zes) Due: Week 9 Friday (12 May 2017) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 10 Begin Date: 15 May 2017

Module/Topic

Ondansetron

Oseltamivir

Oxytocin

Salbutamol

Tetanus & influenza immunisation

Chapter

QAS DTP's - ondansetron, oseltamivir, oxytocin, salbutamol, tetanus immunisation, influenza vaccine

Text - ondansetron p653, oseltamivir p954, oxytocin p723-4, salbutamol p615

Events and Submissions/Topic


Week 11 Begin Date: 22 May 2017

Module/Topic

When to call for back-up - CCP drugs

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Online Quiz(zes) Due: Week 11 Friday (26 May 2017) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 12 Begin Date: 29 May 2017

Module/Topic

Any last minute concerns...

Chapter


Events and Submissions/Topic


Review/Exam Week Begin Date: 05 Jun 2017

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Exam Week Begin Date: 12 Jun 2017

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment Tasks

1 Presentation and Written Assessment

Assessment Title
Presentation and Written Assessment

Task Description

Historically, ambulance services followed a medical model for determining future clinical direction, often deferring to a medical advisory board or medical director to determine new skills, procedures or pharmacology. More recently, there has been a shift in thinking towards paramedics researching and determining their own destiny in a clinical sense. It is therefore becoming an important skill for paramedics to be able to look at current research and new trends, and to analyse the evidence base to determine whether a new skill, procedure or pharmacology should be adopted (or not)

You have been tasked by a medical advisory board to review the introduction of either a new drug (approved by the TGA) or another service's drug (not currently used by your chosen service) into the already extensive armament of drugs on offer in your chosen ambulance service. Please note that simply altering the indications for a current drug or the route of administration of a current drug is not sufficient for this task. The medical advisory board would like for you to report on the introduction of this drug into the ambulance service and therefore require 2 parts to this proposal.

Part one (25%) will require you to develop a paper including a review of the literature on your drug of choice. You will be required to review recent (no greater than 5 years) research articles (aim for 5 articles) in relation to this drug of choice. It is preferred that the literature review is in narrative form (that is, explain the research in your own words). The word limit for this section is 1500 words.

Using information you obtain from the journals you will combine the information, critique the literature and your report should include:

Introduction - your report aim
Research articles - identify the research designs, the study participants and describe how the data was collected for each study
Discussion - What conclusions can be drawn from the studies? Discuss the implications of introducing this drug into paramedic practice, for example, do you need to cease the use of one drug for the introduction of another? Are there any cost/equipment implications?
Conclusion - what are your recommendations (drug therapy protocol to be developed here or as an appendix - either way it is included in your word count)
Reference List

Part two (25%) - using the information collected in part one, you will be required to develop a scientific poster.

There is no specific word limit here, as you will be using the information gained in Part 1. Remember to summarise your information for presentation.



Assessment Due Date

Week 5 Friday (7 Apr 2017) 11:45 pm AEST


Return Date to Students

Week 7 Friday (28 Apr 2017)


Weighting
50%

Minimum mark or grade
50%

Assessment Criteria

Part one (25%) - The paper will be assessed on:

Presentation and layout: information presented in a clear & logical sequence; content clearly written; appropriate word count; abbreviations & diagrams used appropriately

Questions: selected drug meets criteria; most current literature used; introduction; discussion of research design & data; implications of introducing the drug; recommendations

Drug therapy protocol: developed appropriately; all information included; effective layout; sources acknowledged

Referencing: use of Harvard referencing; all sources referenced appropriately; reference list

Part Two (25%) – The poster will be assessed on:

Required content: looking at the main points covered & content

Presentation: looking at visual engagement; use of visual elements; graphics & overall presentation

Mechanics: looking at grammar & spelling & referencing

The assessment rubric used in marking this assessment task can be found on the unit Moodle page.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Part One and Part Two submitted through Moodle.

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Describe the indications, pharmacokinetics, actions, routes of administration, contraindications, side effects and precautions of medications and fluids administered by paramedics, and how you would evaluate the effects of administration
  • Research and justify the most effective pharmacological treatment options in the pre-hospital context.


Graduate Attributes
  • Communication
  • Problem Solving
  • Critical Thinking
  • Information Literacy
  • Information Technology Competence
  • Ethical practice

2 Online Quiz(zes)

Assessment Title
Online Quiz(zes)

Task Description

You will be required to complete this online quiz by the end of week 9, this quiz will become available in Week 7 and will have a specific time limit imposed to complete the quiz. The quiz will be made up of case based management exercises including drug calculations in accordance with the Queensland Ambulance Service DTP's. This is an individual assessment with no collaboration allowed.


Number of Quizzes

1


Frequency of Quizzes

Other


Assessment Due Date

Week 9 Friday (12 May 2017) 11:45 pm AEST

The quiz will open 0800hrs on Monday of week 8 and closes at 2345hrs AEST (Australian Eastern Standard Time) on Friday of week 9.


Return Date to Students

Week 11 Friday (26 May 2017)


Weighting
25%

Minimum mark or grade
50%

Assessment Criteria

You will be required to answer each question as a whole at ACP2 level to receive the full marks allocated to that question. This assessment task must be completed by 2345hrs on the Friday of Week 9 (12 May 2017). In the absence of an approved extension, there will be no opportunity to complete the task after this date, and there will be no opportunity to apply a late penalty of five percent per day. This quiz is worth 25% of your overall mark. All assessment pieces must be completed to pass this unit.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
You will be required to complete this task in an allocated time, there will be no option to save your answers and to go back to the quiz later.

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Correctly calculate drug doses for the administration of paramedic medications


Graduate Attributes
  • Critical Thinking
  • Information Literacy

3 Online Quiz(zes)

Assessment Title
Online Quiz(zes)

Task Description

You will be required to complete this online quiz by the end of week 11, this quiz will become available in Week 10 and will have a specific time limit imposed to complete the quiz. The quiz will be made up of short answer questions related to material offered throughout the unit as well as in accordance with the Queensland Ambulance Service DTP’s.


Number of Quizzes

1


Frequency of Quizzes

Other


Assessment Due Date

Week 11 Friday (26 May 2017) 11:45 pm AEST

The quiz will open 0800hrs on Monday of week 10 and closes at 2345hrs AEST (Australian Eastern Standard Time) on Friday of week 11.


Return Date to Students

Exam Week Friday (16 June 2017)


Weighting
25%

Minimum mark or grade
50%

Assessment Criteria

You will be required to answer each question as a whole at ACP2 level to receive the full marks allocated to that question. This assessment task must be completed by 2345hrs on the Friday of Week 11 (26 May 2017). In the absence of an approved extension, there will be no opportunity to complete the task after this date, and there will be no opportunity to apply a late penalty of five percent per day. This quiz is worth 25% of your overall mark. All assessment pieces must be completed to pass this unit.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
You will be required to complete this task in an allocated time, there will be no option to save your answers and to go back to the quiz later.

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Describe the indications, pharmacokinetics, actions, routes of administration, contraindications, side effects and precautions of medications and fluids administered by paramedics, and how you would evaluate the effects of administration
  • Discuss the implications of renal or hepatic dysfunction, pregnancy and extremes of age on drug administration in the paramedic context


Graduate Attributes
  • Communication
  • Problem Solving
  • Critical Thinking
  • Information Literacy
  • Ethical practice

Academic Integrity Statement

As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.

Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.

When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.

Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.

As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.

What is a breach of academic integrity?

A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.

Why is academic integrity important?

A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.

Where can I get assistance?

For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.

What can you do to act with integrity?