Applied Physical Health and Pharmacology (MSc)

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Demonstrate conceptual knowledge, understanding and application of pharmacological principles to medicines management and administration
• Apply conceptual knowledge of aetiology and pathophysiological processes to conditions/diseases/illness relevant to field of practice
• Demonstrate critical awareness of the role of genetics and genomics in shaping health and illness across the life course
• Demonstrate a systematic understanding of the processes of developing disease , including pathophysiological factors that underpin the most common physical health presentations.
• Systematically apply knowledge and understanding of mechanisms of drug interactions and adverse drug reactions to medicines optimization, including how individual variations can affect patients’ responses to medicines

Theme one: Pathological processes: students will gain an overview of the common aetiology and , pathophysiological factors underpinning the most common physical health presentations. This will provide the opportunity to apply knowledge of these processes to some of the most common conditions/diseases/illnesses that are encountered in adult nursing practice. This will include the key principles and dynamic processes of homeostasis, such as energy balance and metabolism (including thermoregulation), Acid/Base balance(including blood gases, hydrogen ions, bicarbonate ions, buffering, acidosis, alkalosis), fluid balance and hydrostatic pressure (blood, interstitial lymph, CSF, ICP, Intra-ocular and digestive secretions), biochemical regulation and function of electrolytes and non-electrolytes (for example sodium, potassium, calcium, urea, nitrogenous waste, and understanding of proteins, enzyme functions, lipids, carbohydrates and a variety of vitamins), and nutrition (maintenance of blood glucose, HDL/LDL cholesterol). Theme 2: Pharmacology and medicines management. Students will gain the knowledge, understanding and application of general pharmacological principles that guide aspects of clinical practice and decision making. This will include an awareness and understanding of the types of information available and where it is commonly accessed, such as the BNF, derived formularies, and other sources. It will also include the basic principles of absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of drugs (i.e. pharmacokinetics), how medicines exert their effect (i.e. pharmacodynamics) and how these principles inform understanding of dose-response relationships, dose requirements and routes of administration. Learners will gain an understanding of commonly administered medications such as analgesic and anti-inflammatory drugs, anticonvulsant agents, antidepressants, anti-hypertensives, anti-ulcer and anti-emetic, diuretics, drugs of addiction and misuse, drugs to treat anaphylaxis and other allergy based emergencies, general anaesthetics, hypoglycaemic agents, laxatives and antidiarrhoeals, and local anaesthetics. This theme will also cover the mechanisms of drug interactions and medicines optimization. Finally, this module will consider the principles of medicines management, including legal and ethical principles. Theme 3: Genetics.: Students will be introduced to DNA and how it is organized to form the genome and how it is inherited. This theme will provide an overview of chromosomes, how they are composed and the role of DNA sequence in regulation and protein synthesis. The importance of gaining detailed genomic history will be explored, including consideration around sensitivities in collecting this information. Students will gain an overview of how genomic information can influence patient care with regard to refining diagnosis, identifying the cause of a genetic disease, targeting treatment, explaining a patient's response to drugs including predicting the efficacy of a particular drug effect and adverse reactions, and diagnosing and treating infections. Students will also learn how the genome can influence health and disease, including how genetics influence height, blood pressure, blood groups, etc., as well as how health conditions are caused by the interplay of genetic and environmental factors (i.e. multi-factorial conditions).In addition, this theme will provide an overview of classifications of genetic conditions, the implications for alterations to the genome, and how accumulation of genetic alterations can lead to the development of cancer.

This module will be taught using a variety of learning and teaching approaches including: •Lectures •Seminars •Guided independent study

Formative

This is how we’ll give you feedback as you are learning. It is not a formal test or exam.

Formative self-marked practice exam

• Assessment Type: Formative
• Feedback:
• Final Assessment:
• Group Work: No

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.