Medical care and pharmacology (8 cr)

Objective

The student knows the key legislation and informational guidance regulating medication therapy and understands their significance in the overall medication therapy process.
The student is able to assess the critical points in the overall medication therapy process to implement the safe medication therapy as prescribed by a physician.
The student can explain the processes and stages of how a medication is absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and eliminated in the body when administered through different routes.
The student is proficient in error-free medication calculations.
The student is able to use essential pharmacological knowledge in the planning, implementation, guidance, and evaluation of medication therapy.

Content

Regulatory basis for medication therapy
Medication treatment plan
Nurse's role, duties, and responsibilities in medication therapy
Self-medication
Medication therapy technology
Drug calculations
Implementation of medication therapy using different administration routes
Stages and effects of medication in the body
Monitoring, recording, checking, and evaluating the effects of medication therapy
Therapeutic effects, adverse effects, and interactions of medications, interaction mechanisms
Basics of pharmacology
Most common groups of drugs and their uses, mechanisms of action, and administration methods

Location and time

Check your pakki schedule.

Materials

Materials provided by teachers in Reppu
Hand out materials and lecture materials
Medical calculation will follow the Finnish text book: Nikkola, R., Nurkka, N. & Paloposki, S. 2021. Annos oivallusta. Harjoittelemalla lääkelaskennan osaajaksi. Sanoma Pro Oy. Helsinki.

Teaching methods

Physical and online lectures, CSL, group discussions, group work, independent studies

Employer connections

The Medication Passport will be activated and used during the clinical training periods of the professional studies.

The medication theory exam and the basic medication calculations, which are included in the medical care and pharmacology course, must be passed no later than one month before the start of the clinical training in professional studies.
In addition to the above, passing the medication calculations related to the specific professional study module is always a prerequisite for starting the clinical training. These must also be passed no later than one month before the start of the training.

Exam schedules

MEDICATION CALCULATION EXAM:
1st retake:
The medication calculation exam and one retake will be held during the course lessons (no separate registration required). Further retakes will take place in the general medication calculation retake exams.

MEDICAL CARE THEORY EXAM:
Exam content: Reppu materials and lectures
1st retake:
2nd retake:
Register for the retake exams using the electronic form sent to Karimi Ngui, at least one week before the exam date.

Student workload

Medical care 5 credits (135 h)

Pharmacology 3 credits (81 h)

Content scheduling

19 September 2025 at 9:45–11:15 on INFO
Course content and progression

Medication Calculations:
Medications administered via natural routes
Medications administered by injection
Dosage based on body weight or body surface area
Medical gases
Solution concentrations as relative concentrations
Preparing solutions from solid substances
Diluting solutions
Infusion rate calculations

Medical care theory:
Medicine in the body
Adverse effects and interactions of medicines
Factors affecting drug therapy
Safe medical treatment

Medication Calculation Exam Dates to be confirmed
Medication Calculation Exam, 1st retake dates to confirmed

Evaluation scale

0 - 5

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

The student expertly and comprehensively uses medication safety concepts and integrates them into coherent wholes.
The student is able to assess critical points related to the overall medication therapy process.
The student acts responsibly in the various stages of the overall medication therapy process.
The student masters error-free drug calculations.
The student acts responsibly, proactively, and flexibly in the given learning and operational environment to ensure the implementation of safe medication therapy.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

The student is able to describe the stages and mechanisms of action of medications in the body by drug groups.
The student can describe blood products and their purposes.
The student can describe the essential content of the regulations affecting medication therapy. The student masters error-free drug calculations.
The student can use electronic databases and analyze the information they provide.
The student can use the aids needed for medication administration in a patient-centered manner.
The student uses an ethical knowledge base in the medication therapy decision-making process.
The student recognizes ethical issues in medication therapy.
The student can describe their own responsibility in the implementation of a patient's medication therapy.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

The student can name the key regulations affecting medication therapy.
The student can explain the stages of a medication administered in different ways in the body. The student can describe the nurse's responsibility in implementing a blood transfusion.
The student masters error-free drug calculations.
The student can name the key groups of drugs.
The student can create a medication therapy implementation plan.
The student can correctly administer medication through natural routes.
The student can carry out a blood transfusion according to the physician's order.

Assessment criteria, approved/failed

Failed:
The student does not achieve a satisfactory level

Assessment methods and criteria

Clinical skills labs. Attendance 100%.

Medical calculations exam result MUST be 100% (Pass/fail)
Medical care theory. Exam is passed when a student scores 50% or more (0-5)
Pharmacology. Exam is passed when a student scores 50% or more (0-5)

The final grade of the course is base on the average grade medical theory exam and pharmacology exam.

Final course grade will NOT be given if the student has not yet passed the medical calculation exam and/or attended ALL the CSLs

Objective

The student knows the key legislation and informational guidance regulating medication therapy and understands their significance in the overall medication therapy process.
The student is able to assess the critical points in the overall medication therapy process to implement the safe medication therapy as prescribed by a physician.
The student can explain the processes and stages of how a medication is absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and eliminated in the body when administered through different routes.
The student is proficient in error-free medication calculations.
The student is able to use essential pharmacological knowledge in the planning, implementation, guidance, and evaluation of medication therapy.

Accomplishment methods

Contact teaching, assignments and online – activities

Content

Regulatory basis for medication therapy
Medication treatment plan
Nurse's role, duties, and responsibilities in medication therapy
Self-medication
Medication therapy technology
Drug calculations
Implementation of medication therapy using different administration routes
Stages and effects of medication in the body
Monitoring, recording, checking, and evaluating the effects of medication therapy
Therapeutic effects, adverse effects, and interactions of medications, interaction mechanisms
Basics of pharmacology
Most common groups of drugs and their uses, mechanisms of action, and administration methods