SYKDB140 Pathology and pharmacology

Contents and structure

This module gives a broad knowledge of pathology and pharmacology with relation to physical and mental illnesses, allowing students to identify a patient’s needs and choose and implement the correct nursing measures. Pathology refers to the study of the basic features of disease processes, diseases and injuries. It covers the cause of a disease (aetiology), the changes that can occur in the body (pathogenesis), the problems experienced by the patient (symptoms), clinical findings, identifying what disease a patient has (diagnosis), treatment of the disease, and how the disease is expected to develop (prognosis).

Pharmacology is the study of medicine. General pharmacology primarily deals with how medication affects the cells of the body (pharmacodynamics), and how medication is taken into the body, transported, broken down and excreted again (pharmacokinetics). Pharmacology also covers the side effects of medication and how different drugs alter the effects and turnover of other drugs (drug interaction).

This module also includes the following topics:

• Pain and pain management
• Disorders of fluid, electrolyte and acid-base balance
• Blood products and transfusions
• Traumatology, burns and poisoning
• Anaesthesia, pre-, peri- and postoperative treatment, intensive medicine

Learning Outcome

Upon module completion, students will have attained the following total learning outcomes, divided into knowledge, skills and general competence.

Knowledge: The student...

• will have a broad knowledge of the most common symptoms, diseases, disease courses and treatment
• will have a broad knowledge of the most common mental health problems and illnesses
• will have a broad knowledge of pharmacology in the context of a nurse’s functions and responsibilities
• will be familiar with the treatment of various injuries

Skills:The student...

• will have mastered concepts and terminology relating to pathology
• will have mastered concepts and terminology relating to pharmacology

General competence:The student...

• will be able to convey key subject matter

Entry requirements

None

Recommended previous knowledge

Modules SYK100, SYK110, SYK130 and SYK120P

Teaching methods

• Lectures
• Group work
• Multimedia resources
• Student presentations
• Supervision
• Peer feedback
• Problem solving
• Self-study

Compulsory learning activities

The following compulsory learning activities must be approved before students can sit the final examination:

1: Participation in study groups with peer feedback and supervision. Topic: Pathology.

2: Participation in study groups with peer feedback and supervision. Topic: Pharmacology.

Compulsory learning activities are valid for four semesters. In the case of absence from cumpulsory learning activities, the same rules apply as for absence during practical training according to the regulations relating to programmes of study and examinations at Western Norway University of Applied Sciences.

Assessment

Individual written exam, 5 hours. The time and place of the examination will be published on Studentweb.

Assessment grading:  Graded using a scale from A to F, where A to E are passing grades and F is a fail.

Resit exams are conducted in the same way as ordinary exams.

Examination support material

None

More about examination support material