Available in 2024
Course code

PHAR6703

Units

10 units

Level

6000 level

Course handbook

Description

This course is designed to meet the educational requirements of registered midwives seeking endorsement for scheduled medicines. This course enables students to acquire the additional knowledge necessary to function safely and effectively as an autonomous prescriber within the Australian health care system. It will provide students with advanced knowledge in the area of clinical assessment and history taking, and pharmacotherapeutics as it applies to the pharmacological management of health conditions within the context of midwifery primary care. The course uses targeted case-based scenarios to further develop students' application of knowledge of drug action, understanding the pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment options in generating a medication management plan using evidence-based approaches, as well as the quality use of medicines implications surrounding these therapeutic agents.


Availability2024 Course Timetables

Online

  • Trimester 2 - 2024

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of the course students will be able to:

1. Apply advanced pharmacotherapeutic management principles in the context of midwifery primary care.

2. Describe the mechanism of action of the drugs commonly used by women during pregnancy, labour, birth and the postnatal period.

3. Apply knowledge of the quality use of medicines issues associated with midwifery practice, including prescribing.

4. Demonstrate the ability to make informed and autonomous decisions about therapeutic responses and interventions that are based on clinical judgment, scientific evidence and safety of the childbearing woman and/or neonate within the context of the Prescribing Competencies Framework.

5. Demonstrate a commitment to evidence based practice and the ability to consult and refer to other health professionals when required.

6. Describe the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic changes to women in pregnancy, labour, birth and the postnatal period.

7. Demonstrate woman-centred communication skills about medication used across the midwifery continuum to ensure informed decision making by the childbearing woman.


Content

The course will cover:

  1. The pharmacology, therapeutic management and quality use of medicine issues surrounding in preconception, pregnancy, labour, birth and postnatal care and how this supports the clinical needs of the woman and/or neonate
  2. Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics as it applies across the midwifery continuum
  3. Women-centred communication skills appropriate to understanding the clinical needs of women and neonates, and working in partnership to implement medication management plans 
  4. Making informed prescribing choices and psychology of prescribing in midwifery practice
  5. Quality use of medicines and medication safety in midwifery practice

Requisite

This course is only available to students who are active in the Master of Midwifery Studies program (10973 OR 40143).


Assumed knowledge

NURS6620 Biophysical Processes and Health Assessment; PHAR6701 Introduction to Pharmacotherapeutics and Prescribing for Health Care Professionals.Note: This course includes a work-embedded assessment which requires students to be employed in a clinical capacity during the course in order to be able to successfully complete it.


Assessment items

In Term Test: Online test
Compulsory Requirement: Pass requirement - Must pass this assessment item to pass the course.

Portfolio: Assignment
Compulsory Requirement: Submit assessment item - Must submit this assessment to pass the course.

Formal Examination: Formal Examination - online
Compulsory Requirement: Pass requirement - Must pass this assessment item to pass the course.


Contact hours

Trimester 2 - 2024 - Online

Online Activity-1
  • Online 2 hour(s) per week(s) for 6 week(s)
Self-Directed Learning-1
  • Self-Directed 10 hour(s) per week(s) for 12 week(s) starting in week 1

Course outline

Course outline not yet available.