North Arkansas College
Pharmacology III
NURS 2031 1 credit hour
Location/Class Meeting Times:
Thursday 1:30-2:30 and online. See calendar for dates
Course Description
Pharmacology III is a 1-credit course designed to give nursing students a thorough and practical
understanding of pharmacology for nursing practice. Emphasis at this level is placed on
therapeutic action of medications, drug interactions, common dosages, administration and
nursing responsibilities for monitoring/assessing and intervention during treatment of patients as
well as patient and family teaching. Applicable evidence based studies will be highlighted
throughout the course.
Course Requirements
Successful completion of Pharmacology I and Pharmacology II and grade of 79% or better for
Pharmacology III will be necessary for continuation in the Registered Nursing program. Students
are expected to take exams as scheduled. Make-up exams are given only with advanced notice
and at the discretion of the instructor (will not be the same exam given during scheduled class)
and will be taken within one week of the original test date. Students are allowed only one makeup exam per course.
Instructors
Shelia Howerton APN, MSN, RN
Carla Jacobs MSN, RN
Office number: M175
M176
Office phone:
870-391-3169
870-391-3535
Email:
showerton@northark.edu
cjacobs@northark.edu
Office Hours:
Wednesday: 9 am - 12 pm; 1 pm- 3 pm
Thursday: 8:30 am- 3 pm (If not in class)
Friday: By appointment
Office Hours:
Wednesday: 9 am – 12 pm; 1 pm – 3 pm
Thursday: 08:30 am – 3 pm (if not in class)
Friday: By appointment
Course Objectives:
At the conclusion of Pharmacology III the student will be able to:
1. Incorporate evidenced based nursing into clinical decisions combining current research,
clinical expertise and patient preferences (Spirit of Inquiry) Measured by exam, classroom
discussion.
2. Plan nursing interventions that will result in appropriate and safe administration of
medications (Nursing Judgment, Professional Identity) Measured by exam, case study.
3. Formulate appropriate, culturally specific teaching strategies to improve patient compliance
and understanding of a medication regimen (Human Flourishing, Professional Identity)
Measured by exam and discussion.
4. Explain pharmacological characteristics of specific classifications of drugs; their mechanism
of action, uses, side effects, adverse reactions and nursing considerations as to age, race and
existing medical problems (Professional Identity) Measured by exam, classroom discussion.
5. Describe the roles and responsibilities of the registered nurse regarding medication
administration (Professional Identity, Nursing Judgment) Measured by exam, case studies.
Resources
o Personal computer - The student is expected to have access to a computer with these
system requirements. If you have any problems with your computer, ie, computer
crashes, internet goes down, or etc., it is your responsibility to have a backup plan.
o Email Account—A Northark email account was issued to you automatically when you
enrolled in your classes. To access your email, navigate to Northark’s Web site at
www.northark.edu. On the Students tab, you should see a link Student Email. You may
also access your email from web.mail.northark.edu. Your email address will be your
username@mail.northark.edu
o Textbooks
Kee, J.L., Hayes, E.R.,& McCuistion, L. (2012). Pharmacology: A nursing process approach,
(7th ed).
Philadelphia: Saunders.
Ignatavivius, M. and Workman, L. (2013) Medical-Surgical Nursing: Patient-Centered
Collaborative Care, 7 th ed., St. Louis, MO: Elsevier-Saunders.
Maxi-Learn
Available on campus resources
o
Computers:
(i.) JPH Business building – Computers are available in rooms B206, 207, 208, 209, &
302. (See schedule on the wall beside Mary Bausch’s office on the 2nd floor)
(ii.) Libraries – There are computers available for all Northark students on the north and
south campuses.
North Campus: Monday – Friday, 7:30 am – 4:30 pm
South Campus: Monday – Thursday, 7:30 am – 9:00 pm
Friday: 7:30 am – 5:00 pm
Saturday: 8 am – 5 pm
o Writing Lab – South Campus room Resources on the north and south campus including
the library, computer labs, and the Learning Assistance Center (math & science tutors,
writing lab, testing center)
Assistance available for the course
If you are having any issues in your course, the first person you should contact is your
instructor. If you need technical assistance for logon issues, contact Brenda Freitas (Northark IT
department) at bfreitas@northark.edu or 870.391.3275.
Grading
Grading standards and examination policies for this course are consistent with those of North
Arkansas College Registered Nursing Program Handbook. Please refer to this publication. End
of Course evaluation is determined as follows:
Module Exams
Final (Comprehensive)
Homework
60%
20%
20%
Cumulative average of 79% is required for passage of course. You must be passing this course
with a 79% or higher on tests before the homework grade is added to the weight.
Grading Scale:
91-100 A
84-90 B
79-83 C
70-78 D
<70
F
Make-Up Exams:
1. All exams should be taken at the scheduled time.
2. The student MUST personally notify the instructor prior to the exam if the student is
unable to take the exam at the scheduled time. A missed examination is considered a
class absence.
3. Arrangements must be made by the student as soon as possible.
4. Student may make-up ONE test only per semester at the instructor’s discretion.
5. Failure to comply with the stated requirements omits the privilege of taking a make-up
test and a zero will be given for the test not taken.
6. An alternative exam may be administered
Attendance policy
Refer to your Registered Nursing Program Handbook.
Academic Dishonesty
Academic fraud and dishonesty are defined as follows:
Cheating: Intentionally using or attempting to use unauthorized materials,
information, or study aids in any academic exercise.
Facilitating academic dishonesty: Intentionally or knowingly helping or
attempting to help another commit an act of academic dishonesty.
Test tampering: Intentionally gaining access to restricted test booklets, banks,
questions, or answers before a test is given; or tampering with questions or
answers after a test is taken.
Plagiarism: Intentionally or knowingly representing the words and ideas of
another as one's own in any academic exercise.
Academic dishonesty will not be permitted. It shall be at the instructor’s discretion to fail
the student for that assignment, remove the student from the class, reduce the student’s
grade or petition to have the student suspended from the college.
General Policies:
The Pharmacology III course adheres to all policies in the Registered Nursing Program Handbook and
the Northark Student Handbook. You are responsible for knowing the information in the Registered
Nursing Program Handbook for this course.
Pharmacology III Course Modules
Module I (online)
Chapter 18 Adrenergics and Adrenergic Blockers
Chapter 19 Cholinergics and Anticholinergics
Module II
Chapter 22 Anticonvulsants
Chapter 23 Parkinsonism and Alzheimer’s Disease Medications
Chapter 24 Drugs for Neuromuscular Disorders: Myasthenia Gravis,
Multiple Sclerosis, and Muscle Spasms
Module III (online)
Chapter 40 Drugs for Upper Respiratory Disorders
Chapter 41 Drugs for Lower Respiratory Disorders
Chapter 32 Antituberculars
Module IV
(online) Chapter 42 Cardiac Glycosides, Antianginals, and
Antidysrthythmics
Chapter 44 Antihypertensives
Chapter 45 Anticoagulants, Antiplatelets and Thrombolytics
(online) Chapter 46 Antilipidemics and Peripheral Vasodilator
Provision for changing the syllabus will be announced on portal.
ADA statement: North Arkansas College complies with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of
1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Students with disabilities who need
special accommodations should make their requests in the following way: (1) talk to the
instructor after class or during office hours about their disability or special need related to
classroom work; and/or (2) contact Special Services in Room M188 and ask to speak to Kim
Brecklein.
Monday
Tuesday
May 19
May 20
Wednesday
May 21
May 26
May 27
May 28
Test #1 Due
June 2
June 3
June 4
June 10
June 11
Quiz #2
June 16
June 17
June 18
Friday
May 22
Online Content Module 1
Maxi Learn pages due: 9,
91, 113, 116, 118
May 23
May 29
May 30
In class Module 2
Maxi Learn pages due: 86,
87, 98, 100, 117
June 5
Quiz #1
June 9
Thursday
June 6
Test #2
Module 3 online
June 12
Test #3 online
Maxi-Learn pages due: 29,
111,112, 89-92
June 13
June 19
Module 4 Chapter 44 in
class
Maxi Learn pages due: 10,
11, 12, 13, 14
June 20
June 23
June 24
June 25
June 26
Chapter 42 online
Maxi Learn pages due: 1-3
June 30
July 1
July 2
Quiz #3
July 3
July 4
Chapter 46 online
Maxi-Learn pages due: 2024, 28
July 7
July 8
July 9
July 10
Chapter 45 in class
Maxi Learn pages due: 25,
26, 27, 28
July 11
July 14
July 15
July 16
Quiz #4
July 17
July 18
July 23
Final online due
July 24
July 21
July 22
June 27
Test #4
July 25