COURSE SYLLABUS
VNSG 1331 (3:3:0)
PHARMACOLOGY
**********
VOCATIONAL NURSING
NURSING DEPARTMENT
HEALTH OCCUPATIONS DIVISION
LEVELLAND CAMPUS
SOUTH PLAINS COLLEGE
SPRING 2013
Levelland
Campus
COURSE SYLLABUS
COURSE TITLE: Pharmacology, VNSG 1331
INSTRUCTOR: Jennifer Ponto, R.N., B.S.N
OFFICE LOCATION AND PHONE/E-MAIL:
Room 806 716 2471 jponto@southplainscollege.edu
OFFICE HOURS:
By Appointment
SOUTH PLAINS COLLEGE IMPROVES EACH STUDENT’S LIFE
I. GENERAL COURSE INFORMATION
A. COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Fundamentals of medications and their diagnostic, therapeutic, and curative effects.
Includes nursing intervention utilizing the nursing process.
B. STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES:
DECS:
1. Discuss the anatomy and physiology of the body systems and disease process in
relationship to pharmacological modalities.
2. Discuss the drug therapy used to treat a particular disease and the effects of that
drug on the appropriate body system.
3. Identify the premedication nursing assessment prior to medication
administration.
4. Identify the nursing process in relationship to drug therapy.
5. Relate the importance of fostering health maintenance through all aspects of
patient care.
6. Differentiate the pharmacodynamics of various life span groups, such as gender,
young or older age, pregnancy and breastfeeding.
7. Identify classifications of medications as related to body disorders.
8. Identify commonly prescribed medications and related information in each
classification.
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9. Relate nursing considerations for each classification of drugs.
10. Identify possible drug/food interactions and drug/drug interactions.
11. Describe possible adverse effects and evaluate these manifestations in the
patient.
12. Discuss health teaching to the patient/family.
13. Demonstrate knowledge of properties, effects and principles underlying the use
and administration of pharmaco-therapeutic agents.
WECM: The student will: 1) identify properties, effects, and principles of
pharmacotherapeutic agents; 2) List common nursing intervention associated with
the various pharmacotherapeutic agents.
Specific goals/objectives of this course
The student will:
1. Utilize terminology associated with pharmacology
2. Utilize appropriate sources of drug information to research prescribed
medication.
3. Apply the six right of medication administration during the preparation,
administration and documentation medication therapy.
4. Utilize individual drug monographs to identify
a. drug action
b. adverse reactions
c. drug dosage forms
d. recommended dosages and routes of administration
e. nursing intervention appropriate to alleviate or prevent drug adverse
reaction
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VNSG 1331
5. Utilize basic knowledge to be able to complete the nursing responsibilities
needed to deliver safe patient care while meeting the pharmacological needs of
the patient.
6. Utilize knowledge base to monitor the patient's response to drug therapy and
collaborate with members of the health care team whenever needed to clarify
orders, and report the individual's response to medication prescribed.
7. Utilize patient education resources designed to meet the health care needs of
the individual, discuss the expectations of therapy and degree of symptom relief
that can be anticipated, to evaluate the individual's response to the medication
prescribed
8. Identify classification of medications.
9. Identify commonly prescribed medications and related information in each
classification.
10. Relate possible drug interactions for specific drugs.
11. Evaluate the patient for possible adverse drug.
12. Demonstrate health teaching related to drug therapy.
13. Demonstrate critical thinking and problem solving ability.
14. Demonstrate continued ability to calculate drug dosages, including IV fluids and
drugs safely.
C. COURSE COMPETENCIES:
Grading Scale:
A
(100-93)
B
( 92-83)
C
( 82-77)
Below 77 is failing
D. ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:
Please refer to SPC Catalog and Vocational Nursing Student Handbook.
E. SCANS AND FOUNDATION SKILLS:
C1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19
F1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17
F. VERIFICATION OF WORKPLACE COMPETENCIES:
No external learning experiences provided. Successful completion of the DECS
Competency statements at the level specified by the course (Level Objectives) will
allow the student to continue to advance within the program. Upon successful
completion of the program, students will be eligible to take the state board exam
(NCLEX) for vocational nurse licensure.
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VNSG 1331
II. SPECIFIC COURSE/INSTRUCTOR REQUIREMENTS
A. REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS:
1. Clayton, B. & Stock, Y. (2011). Basic Pharmacology for Nurses (15th Edition).
St. Louis, MO: Mosby.
2. Deglin, J. & Vallerand, A. (2013). Davis’ drug Guide for Nurse (13th Edition).
Philadelphia, PA: F. A. Davis Company.
3. Curren, A (2009). Math for Meds: Dosages and Solutions (10th Edition).
Clifton Park, NY: Delmar.
4. IV Therapy Made Incredibly Easy. (2010). Philadelphia, PA, Wolters Kluwer,
LWW.
5. Burton, MA & Ludwig, L. (2011) Fundamentals of Nursing Care. Philadelphia
PA, FA Davis.
6. Occasionally outside references will be required.
B. ATTENDANCE POLICY:
(48 contact hours) Refer to SPC catalogue and Vocational Nursing Student
Handbook. Students are expected to attend all classes and to remain for the entire
class period. Attendance will be taken at the beginning of class: students not
responding to roll are marked absent in the attendance record. Students will be
removed from the course if more than six (6) hours are missed. Three (3) tardies
count as one (1) hours' absence
C. ASSIGNMENT POLICY:
All assignments are to be turned in by 8:00 a.m. on the due date assigned.
Assignments turned in after 8:00 a.m. will be counted late and 10 points will be
deducted each day after the due date. Failure to complete assignments will result in
a grade of INCOMPLETE. Please refer to the Student Handbook for vocational
nursing. Also, please note specific information regarding drug cards.
D. GRADING POLICY/METHODS OF EVALUATION:
Unit Exams
Pop Quiz/Problem Solving Paper
Medication Cards (weekly average)
Final
70%
10%
10%
10%
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VNSG 1331
E. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
1. There will be an exam after the completion of each assigned chapter or unit, and
a comprehensive final exam at the end of the course. No make-up exams. A
grade of zero (0) will be given if an exam is missed. One (1) test grade will be
dropped.
2. Always be prepared for an unannounced pop quiz. Pop quizzes are not eligible
for make-up and a grade of zero (0) will be automatically given. Math quizzes
are given during the semester. No recording, cell phones, programmable
calculators or other devices may be used.
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VNSG 1331
COURSE OUTLINE
A. REQUIRED READINGS:
Texts as stated above, Chapters as assigned. See drug list for individual unit
assignments. It is required that each chapter be read prior to the first lecture hour
for the chapter. The student is also required to complete the assigned drug cards
prior to the first lecture hour for the specific unit. The student is responsible for
completing the learning objectives and learning the key terms at the beginning of
the chapter.
III. ACCOMMODATION
South Plains College strives to accommodate the individual needs of all students in
Order to enhance their opportunities for success in the context of a comprehensive
community college setting. It is the policy of South Plains College to offer all
educational and employment opportunities without regard to race, color, national
origin, religion, gender, disability or age (SPC Equal Opportunity Policy – General
Catalog). Students with disabilities, including but not limited to physical, psychiatric or
learning disabilities, who wish to request accommodations in this class should notify the
Special Services Office early in the semester so that the appropriate arrangements may
be made. In accordance with federal law, a student requesting accommodations must
provide acceptable documentation of his/her disability to the Special Services
Coordinator. For more information, call or visit the Special Services Office in the
Student Services Building, 894-9611 ext. 2529, 2530.
Diversity: In this class, the teacher will establish and support an environment that values and
nurtures individual and group differences and encourages engagement and interaction.
Understanding and respecting multiple experiences and perspectives will serve to challenge
and stimulate all of us to learn about others, about the larger world and about ourselves. By
promoting diversity and intellectual exchange, we will not only mirror society as it is, but also
model society as it should and can be.
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VNSG 1331
Medication Card Information Pharmacology Course:
Ten drug cards will be due every Monday, for a total of 160 different cards. See poster in
classroom for due dates. The student will receive a weekly grade based on the percentage of
completed cards tuned in at 0800. (Example 100% of due cards will result in a grade of 100%)
The weekly grades will be averaged together to comprise 10% of the course grade. The student
will be counseled if any drug cards are missing during the course for any two weeks. The
student will be referred to Admission Academic Committee if any cards missing for any three
weeks. The student can be removed from the course for failure to complete course
requirements. Cards which need correction will be due the following week. Refer to Essentials
of Medication syllabus for card assignments. Do not submit duplicate cards.
This information should be included on each medication card:
1. Medication names: brand and generic
2. Classification BE SPECIFIC: "Anti-infective" is not specific enough. State specific
category: cephalosporin, aminoglycoside, etc. If a medication for blood pressure
control, list by specific category: beta-blocker, ACE inhibitor, etc.
3. Route, Dose and frequency: List for adults, (except if med was prescribed for pedi.
Patient, then list pedi dosage)
4. Indications: List
5. Action. How does this medication work in the body?
6. Adverse reactions. List life threatening ones first in ALL CAPS. Then list the most
common.
7. Contraindications. List the conditions which would prohibit use of this drug.
8. Food/Drug interactions and/or incompatibility. List.
9. Nursing Implications: Assessment: What does the nurse do to safely asses and
monitor with this med?
10. Implementations: What are the nursing implications-focus on safety.
11. Patient teaching: What does the nurse need to teach the patient?
12. √’s-Place a check mark in the appropriate areas. Don’t repeat information.
13. Which specific VS do you monitor in order to give this medication safely-EXAMPLE:
prior to giving an anti-hypertensive med, monitor BP. If systolic<90mmHg, hold med
and contact MD..
14. Labs: THIS SECTION WILL REQUIRE CRITICAL THINKING AND EXTRA EFFORT!!! In the
blank, write in which specific lab needs to be monitored, and why. Correlate
necessary labs with adverse reactions and contraindications. Example: with
furosemide, the K+ level should be monitored because the med causes hypokalemia.
15. Assigned card-If this specific card is on the assigned list, just put a “√” here. If the
card is supposed to a “patient’s medication”, write in the patient initials only. Make
sure the patient med is not already on the assigned list. Why is the patient taking?List specific information-Don’t just list the disease the patient has. For exampleTheodur is given for “bronchodilating effect for patient with COPD.” Completing this
section correctly will require critical thinking.
16. Include the drug card #, your name, and the due date.
17. Make necessary corrections in green ink. A pen is provided by instructor.
PHARMACOLOGY CRITICAL THINKING PROJECT
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VNSG 1331
A patient, age 75, needs detailed instructions on his prescribed medication for congestive heart
failure and deep vein thrombosis. He cannot read above the second grade level and is worried
he might forget his medications. He will require close monitoring of his digoxin level (blood test
every 3 months) and monthly INR's for his Coumadin. Describe how you would give this patient
instruction on the expected action of each medication, possible adverse reactions, and any
other necessary information.
His medications include:
Digoxin 0.125 mg PO qD except Sunday. Hold medication if heart rate <60 and contact
physician.
Coumadin 2 1/2 mg PO qD
Lasix 20 mg PO qD
K-Dur 20 mEq qD
You may include a poster or drawings for this project, but you must give a written explanation
on HOW you would use this poster to teach the patient.
DO NOT simply list the medications, adverse reactions.
Please give DETAILED account of how you would explain this to this patient. Use your
imagination and brainpower!!
Students may use same group members as mental health project. All members must
contribute an equal amount of work. Students will designate, in a contract, which parts of the
project they will be contributing. Each student will receive an individual grade.
Due 0800 date to be announced in class
GRADING CRITERIA FOR CRITICAL THINKING PROJECT.
Papers will be graded on accuracy, details and demonstration of critical thinking.
Accuracy
33%
Details
33%
Demonstration of critical thinking, use of imagination
34%
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VNSG 1331
LECTURE OUTLINE PHARMACOLOGY
Drug Classification
Use(s)
Actions
Contraindications and Cautions
Adverse Reactions
Life Threatening/Serious Reactions
Common Adverse Reactions
Nursing Implications
Assessments Prior To Giving Medication
Laboratory Tests
Nursing Interventions
Patient/Family Education
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VNSG 1331
PHARMACOLOGY
Required Reading: Medication Administration and Pharmacology
Unit A
CH 14
Sedative Hypnotic
CH 20
Pain Management
Unit B
CH 46 p.708-741 Antimicrobial Agent
Unit C
CH 30
Upper Respiratory Disease
CH 31
Lower Respiratory Disease
CH 21
CV disease and metabolic syndrome
CH 22
Hyperlipidemia (content and testing combined
CH 23
Hypertension
CH 25
Angina Pectoris
CH 28
Heart Failure (content and testing combined
CH 29
Diuretics
CH 24
Dysrhythmias (content and testing combined
CH 26
Peripheral Vascular Disease with MS unit G)
CH 27
Thromboembolic Disorders
CH 33
GERD, Peptic Ulcers
CH 34
Nausea and Vomiting
CH 35
Constipation and Diarrhea
CH 15
Parkinson’s Disease
CH 19
Seizure Disorders
CH 13
Autonomic Nervous System
Unit D
Unit E
Unit F
Unit G
Unit H
Unit I
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with MS unit E)
with MS unit F)
VNSG 1331
Unit J
Unit K
Unit L
CH 36
Diabetes Mellitus
CH 37
Thyroid Disease
CH 38
Corticosteroids
CH 39
Gonadal Hormones
CH 40
Obstetrics
CH 41
Male/Female Health
CH 42
UTI
IV Therapy, rate calcs
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