Integrating Science for Nurses: Pathophysiology and Pharmacology

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Key facts

UNE unit code: PSIO215

*You are viewing the 2026 version of this unit which may be subject to change in future.

Start

Trimester 1 - On Campus
Trimester 1 - Online

Campus

Armidale Campus

24/7 online support

Intensive schools

Supervised exam

Credit points

UNE student studies on a laptop on her lounge at home

Use real-life case scenarios to build your knowledge of the pathophysiology of acute and chronic disease conditions that affect people across the lifespan. This unit focuses on applied anatomy and physiology, helping you to develop a well-rounded understanding of these conditions and their management.

You will examine the pathophysiology of diseases and disorders in line with the National Health Priority Areas, which will underpin and enhance your nursing knowledge and skills. This unit also introduces principles of pharmacology and correlates them with the principles of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics to the pathophysiology of these diseases/disorders.

Offerings

Teaching period	Mode/location
Trimester 1	On Campus, Armidale Campus
Trimester 1	Online

*Offering is subject to availability

Intensive schools

There are no intensive schools required for this unit.

Enrolment rules

Pre-requisites

candidature in the BN from 2025 onwards and [(HHSC111 and HHSC112) or (PSIO110 and PSIO120)]; candidature in BN 2025 onwards and HSNS207; candidature in BNHSC and PSIO110 and PSIO120.

Co-requisites

none

Restrictions

PSIO230

Combined units

PSIO415 Integrating Science for Nurses: Pathophysiology and Pharmacology

Notes

The unit will strengthen your foundational science-based knowledge about disease processes and consolidate your learning from the previous units: HHSC111 and HHSC112 (or PSIO110 and PSIO120).
It will allow you to review the changes in the physiology of the body system during diseases. You will appraise evidence-based texts, research articles and Government health information platforms to be skilled, thoughtful, and evidence-based practitioners and apply clinical reasoning. This will facilitate your smooth transition into the Australian health system to make informed decisions during nursing assessments and management of disease.
Equipped with an in-depth understanding of how the disease affects a person’s health, you will be able to educate prospective clients and their families.

Please refer to the student handbook for current details on this unit.

Unit coordinator(s)

Mansi Dass SinghLecturer in Biomedical Science, Human nutrition, Nutritional Biochemistry, Human physiology, Pathophysiology - Faculty of Science, Agriculture, Business and Law; School of Science and Technology

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to:

describe the pathophysiological processes that underlie each disease/disorder involving body systems;
demonstrate an understanding of the epidemiology of each disease/disorder at national and global level;
explain the aetiology (genetic and epigenetic influences) of each disease/disorder involving body systems;
correlate the underlying biochemical derangements (cellular responses to injury, including inflammation and healing) with the pathophysiology of each disease/disorder; and
correlate the principles of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics to the pathophysiology of each disease/disorder.

Assessment information

Assessments are subject to change up to 8 weeks prior to the start of the teaching period in which you are undertaking the unit.

Title	Must Complete	Weight	Offerings	Assessment Notes
A patient education video presentation	Yes	30%	All offerings	Video Presentation To achieve a pass in this unit, it is mandatory to attempt all assessments, and achieve 50% overall in this unit No. words: 300-400 words
Assessment 1 Online Quiz ( MCQ and SAQ)	Yes	20%	All offerings	Open book quiz on module 1 and 2. To achieve a pass in this unit, it is mandatory to attempt all assessments, and achieve 50% overall in this unit.
Examination - Assurance Task	Yes	50%	All offerings	Final examination is proctored and will cover module 1 to 7. To achieve a pass in this unit, it is mandatory to attempt all assessments, and achieve 50% overall in this unit’

Title

Must Complete

Weight

Offerings

Assessment Notes

A patient education video presentation

Yes

30%

All offerings

Video Presentation

To achieve a pass in this unit, it is mandatory to attempt all assessments, and achieve 50% overall in this unit

No. words: 300-400 words

Assessment 1 Online Quiz ( MCQ and SAQ)

Yes

20%

All offerings

Open book quiz on module 1 and 2.
To achieve a pass in this unit, it is mandatory to attempt all assessments, and achieve 50% overall in this unit.

Examination - Assurance Task

Yes

50%

All offerings

Final examination is proctored and will cover module 1 to 7.
To achieve a pass in this unit, it is mandatory to attempt all assessments, and achieve 50% overall in this unit’

Learning resources

Textbooks are subject to change up to 8 weeks prior to the start of the teaching period in which you are undertaking the unit.

Note: Students are expected to purchase prescribed material. Please note that textbook requirements may vary from one teaching period to the next.

Rang and Dale’s Pharmacology

ISBN: 9780323873956

Ritter, J. M., Flower R. J., Henderson, G., Loke Y. K., MacEwan, D., Robinson, E., and Fullerton, J. , Elsevier 10th ed. 2023