Medications in Critical Care MED5681

  • Academic Session: 2024-25
  • School: School of Medicine Dentistry and Nursing
  • Credits: 10
  • Level: Level 5 (SCQF level 11)
  • Typically Offered: Semester 1
  • Available to Visiting Students: No
  • Taught Wholly by Distance Learning: Yes
  • Collaborative Online International Learning: No

Short Description

This course will review some of commonly prescribed medications in critical care including sedation, analgesia, anticoagulation and vasopressors. The course will enable students to critically evaluate the published literature in relation to these commonly used medications. The course will also explore the pharmacokinetic and pharmcodynamic drug considerations in critically ill patients and critically discuss elements of safe use of medication in the ICU.

Timetable

This is a online course with the educational content being uploaded on e learning platform Moodle. There will be webinars scheduled that students can attend.

Requirements of Entry

None

Excluded Courses

None

Co-requisites

None

Assessment

Summative assessment will be carried out using 2 methods that will - in combination - assess all ILOs:

 

1. Written: 1000-word essay. (80%). ILOs 1, 2 & 3

2. Oral presentation of 5 min: (20%). ILOs 1, 2 & 3

Course Aims

The aim of the course is to improve student's knowledge in relation to commonly prescribed medications in critical care and the literature surrounding these medications. The course also aims to provide the students insight into the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic considerations related to medications prescribed for critically ill patients. In addition, the course aims to enhance the students knowledge about the safe use of medication in critical care and gain the ability to apply these principles to their everyday practice.

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

By the end of this course students will be able to:

 

1. Critically appraise the literature surrounding the use of, and the adjustements necessary for medications commonly used in critically ill patients.

2. Critically discusses the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic related to medications commonly used in critically ill patients.

3. Make judgements based on a critical understanding of safe pharmacological treatment decisions for patients who are critically ill.

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.