Learning Activities Workbook
7 Questions – 1,500 words (maximum)
Marks: 100
Weighting: 40%
Due: Week 9 – Friday, 19 August 2016 by 17:00
AIM: the purpose of this assessment is to enable you to demonstrate your understanding of:
1. how medications are regulated in Australia
2. the principles of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics;
3. the roles and responsibilities of healthcare professionals involved in the medication cycle;
4. the contributing factors to medication errors (and near-miss incidents), associated with prescribing, dispensing, administering monitoring medications and preventative strategies to reduce errors. Course Learning Outcomes: 1, 2 & 3
INSTRUCTIONS:
• This assessment item requires you to complete this workbook and submit an electronic file to Turnitin for text matching as well as a hard copy to Reception by the due date.
• The questions in this workbook are short answers. Each answer must be correctly structured using the conventions of academic writing (sentences, paragraphs, grammar, spelling, referencing).
Other elements:
• Always refer to the School of Nursing & Midwifery Writing and Referencing Guide.
• Ensure that you use scholarly literature (digitised readings, research articles, relevant Government reports and text books).
• State your word count (excluding your reference list) on the Assignment Coversheet.
• Submit your assignment online via Turnitin as per the instructions on your Griffith College Portal course site.
MARKING CRITERIA POSSIBLE MARK
Q1 Describe TWO (2) ways that Therapeutic Goods Administration
contributes to the safe use of medications (100 words) /4
Q2 Briefly, define the terms pharmacokinetics (4 marks) and
pharmacodynamics (2 marks) (100 words) /6
Q3 In relation to oral medications, explain the phenomenon known as the
‘hepatic first pass effect’ (150 words) /10
Q4 a) Briefly, describe why Glyceryl Trinitrate 600 microgram tablets must only be administered sublingually (8 marks), and;
b) List FOUR (4) areas of patient education in relation to Glyceryl
Trinitrate (2 marks)
(150 words) /10
Q5 Outline the different roles and responsibilities of the Registered Nurse (5 marks), Doctor (5 marks), and Pharmacist (5 marks) involved in the safe use of medications
(300 words) /15
Q6 You become aware of a medication error:
a) Describe FIVE (5) different types of medication error and a possible cause for each; (10 marks – 200 words) and;
b) Identify and explain TWO (2) nursing actions that you should implement as soon as you become aware of the error (5 marks – 100 words).
(300 words) /15
Q7 a) Explain the difference between the person-centred approach and the system-approach to human error (10 marks).
b) Describe James Reason’s Swiss cheese model (9 marks)
c) In relation to medication errors identify:
a. THREE (3) possible Latent conditions (3 marks) and
b. THREE (3) possible Active failures (3 marks)
(400 words) /25
PRESENTATION, STRUCTURE & REFERENCING
• Conforms to the School of Nursing & Midwifery Writing and Referencing Guide & referencing as per APA Style 6th Edition. (5 marks for in text referencing and 5 marks for the reference list).
• Essay is well presented, with correct spelling, grammar, and wellconstructed sentence and paragraph structure were appropriate (5 marks). /15
Total Marks
Weighted at 40% /100
Question 1: Describe TWO (2) ways that Therapeutic Goods Administration
contributes to the safe use of medications
(100 words/4 marks)

Question 2: Briefly, define the terms pharmacokinetics (4 marks) and
pharmacodynamics (2 marks)
(100 words/ 6 marks)

Question 3: In relation to oral medications, explain the phenomenon known as the ‘hepatic first pass effect’
(150 words/ 10 marks)

Question 4: Briefly describe why Glyceryl Trinitrate 600 mircogram tablets must only be administered sublingually (8 marks). List FOUR (4) areas of patient education in relation to Glyceryl Trinitrate (2 marks)
(150 words/ 10 marks)

Question 5: Outline the different roles and responsibilities of the Registered Nurse,
Doctor and Pharmacist involved in the safe use of medications
(300 words/ 15 marks)

Question 6:
You become aware of a medication error:
a) Describe FIVE (5) different types of medication error and a possible cause for each;
(10 marks) and;
b) Identify and explain TWO (2) nursing actions that you should implement as soon as you become aware of the error (5 marks)
300 words/15 marks)

Question 7:
a) Explain the differences between the person-centred approach and the systemapproach to human error (10 marks).
b) Describe James Reason’s Swiss cheese model (9 marks)
c) In relation to medication errors identify:
• THREE (3) possible Latent conditions (3 marks) and
• THREE (3) possible Active failures (3 marks)
(400 words/25 marks)
REFERENCES:
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