Chabot College
Fall 2002
Removed Fall 2010
Course Outline for Health 56
INTRODUCTORY PHARMACOLOGY/LAB TESTS AND VALUES FOR THE HEALTH
OCCUPATIONS
Catalog Description:
56 - Introductory Pharmacology/Lab Tests and Values for the Health
Occupations
2 units
Introduction to the study of drugs and drug therapy as they relate to the health occupations, i.e.
coding of diagnoses and procedures. Includes a study of the preparation, use and actions of
chemicals having an affect on biological function. Study of laboratory tests, diagnostic tests and
known normal ranges to interpret findings on common diagnostic tests, pathological findings and
vital signs. 2 hours.
[Typical contact hours: 35]
Prerequisite Skills:
None
Expected Outcomes for Students:
Upon completion of the course, the student should be able to:
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identify common abbreviations and terminology related to route of administration and
frequency of dosage;
explain basic principles of drug administration;
identify commonly prescribed drug categories;
describe the therapeutic action of commonly-prescribed drug categories;
identify units of measure for drug dosages;
define drug abbreviations and slang terms;
correctly spell and pronounce commonly-prescribed generic and proprietary drugs for each
medical specialty;
given the generic or proprietary name of a commonly prescribed drug, identify its drug
category;
discuss characteristics and functions of selected drugs and medications, identifying drugs
according to clinical use;
interpret documentation of medication orders and administration, utilizing knowledge
of disease processes, terminology and documentation standards;
given the generic or proprietary name of a commonly-prescribed drug, identify the
diseases it is used to treat;
given a common disease, identify several generic and proprietary drugs used to
treat it;
demonstrate research techniques for obtaining correct and appropriate drug information in a
timely manner from drug references and other sources;
analyze health care records and correlate symptoms, diagnoses and tests performed
with drugs administered;
demonstrate knowledge of basic laboratory and diagnostic tests, normal values and
abnormal findings and how these relate to the patient's symptoms and diseases.
Chabot College
Course Outline for Health 56, page 2
Fall 2002
Course Content:
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Historical overview of pharmacology
Orientation to pharmacology terminology
Drug forms (table, capsule, ointment, liquid, transdermal patch, etc.
Routes of drug administration (oral, sublingual, topical., inhalation)
Drug dosages
Dosage schedules
Generic and proprietary drugs, drug categories, therapeutic effects, drug
abbreviations and slang drug terms for all medical specialties
Generic and proprietary drugs, drug categories, therapeutic effects, drug
abbreviation and slang drug terms for emergency drugs, antibiotics/anti-infectives
antivirals, antifungals, chemotherapy and intravenous fluids/blood products
Common laboratory and diagnostic tests, abbreviations, explanation and physiology
description, normal values and findings, abnormal findings.
Methods of Presentation:
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4.
Lecture
Case studies
Discussion
Guest speaker
Assignments and Methods of Evaluating Student Progress:
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2.
Typical Assignments
a.
Case study
1)
Evaluate physician orders for consistency with diagnosis
2)
Evaluate drugs and lab values to validate diagnoses
b.
Library research
c.
Reading
d.
Written paper
1)
Research drugs and write a presentation about them
3)
Research lab tests and explain each test
e.
Library research
Methods of Evaluating Student Progress:
a.
Quiz
b.
Final examination
Textbook(s)(typical):
Pharmacology – An Introductory Text, Mary Kaye Asperheim, Saunders, 2000
Special Student Materials:
None
Revised 2/1/02