Course Outline
Course Code
Course Title
ECTS Credits
NURS-216
Pharmacology for Nursing
5
Department
Lecturer
Semester
Life and Health Sciences
Prof Edna Yamasaki Patrikiou
Fall
Type of Course
Field
Language of Instruction
Required
Nursing
English
Level of Course
Year of Study
Prerequisites
1st Cycle
2nd
BIOL-110, NURS-105
Mode of Delivery
Work Placement
Corequisites
Face-to-Face
None
None
Course Venue
B116
Course Day and Time
Monday 11:30h-14:30h
Student Consultation Hours
Office
Main building, A211
Email
Yamasaki.e@unic.ac.cy
Telephone
(357) 22 841743
Monday 9:30-11:30h
Tuesday 8:00-900h
Wednesday 9:30-11:30h
Course Objectives:
The main objectives of the course are to:





Transfer to the student the fundamental scientific principles of pharmacology along with
the process of pharmacologic reasoning
Provide the student with an understanding of the cellular mechanisms of drug action and
physiologic outcomes (pharmacodynamics); mechanisms of absorption, distribution,
metabolism, and excretion of drugs (pharmacokinetics); and the clinical use of drugs in
the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of disease (pharmacotherapeutics).
Examine the principles of drug administration and documentation, appropriate use,
therapeutic effect, toxicity, side effects, therapeutic and toxic interactions, dosages and
drug calculations.
Identify cultural and lifespan considerations with regard to client medications
Provide the student with the knowledge for a rational pharmacological management of
patients with simple and complex health problems.
Learning Outcomes:
After completion of the course students are expected to be able to:
Page 1 of 7





Define and explain the processes of pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics and
pharmacotherapeutics.
Demonstrate knowledge of the basic principles of drug administration and documentation
Analyze cultural and lifespan aspects that will affect client medication and compliance
Identify the importance of the role of the nurse ensuring patient’s compliance and
adherence to the pharmacological treatment
Have the knowledge to develop a rational pharmacological plan for patients with simple
and complex health problems.
Course Content:






Applying Pharmacology to Nursing Practice
o Drug definitions, standards, and information sources
o Basic principles of drug action and drug interactions
o Drug action across the lifespan
o The Nursing process and pharmacology
o Patient education to promote health
Atlas of medication administration
o Principles of medication administration and medication safety
o Percutaneous administration
o Enteral administration
o Parenteral administration: safe preparation of parenteral medications
o Parenteral administration: intradermal, subcutaneous and intramuscular routes
o Parenteral administration: intravenous route
Drugs affecting the autonomic and central nervous system
o Drugs affecting the autonomic nervous system
o Drugs used for sleep
o Drugs used for neurodegenerative disorders
o Drugs used for anxiety disorders
o Drugs used to depressive and bipolar disorders
o Drugs used to psychoses
o Drugs used for seizure disorders
o Drugs used for pain management
Drugs affecting the cardiovascular system
o Introduction to cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome
o Drugs used to treat dyslipidemias
o Drugs used to treat hypertension
o Drugs used to treat dysrhythmias
o Drugs used to treat angina pectoris
o Drugs used to treat peripheral vascular disease
o Drugs used to treat thromboembolic disorders
o Drugs used to treat heart failure
o Drugs used for diuresis
Drugs affecting the respiratory system
o Drugs used to treat upper respiratory disease
o Drugs used to treat lower respiratory disease
Drugs affecting the digestive system
o Drugs used to treat oral disorders
Page 2 of 7
o
o
o




Drugs used to treat gastroesophageal reflux and peptic ulcer diseases
Drugs used to treat nausea and vomiting
Drugs used to treat constipation and diarrhea
Drugs that affect the endocrine system
o Drugs used to treat diabetes mellitus
o Drugs used to treat thyroid disease
o Corticosteroids
o Gonadal hormones
Drugs affecting the reproductive system
o Drugs used in obstetrics
o Drugs used in men’s and women’s health
Drugs affecting other body systems
o Drugs used to treat disorders of the urinary system
o Drugs used to treat glaucoma and other eye disorders
o Drugs used to treat cancer
o Drugs used to treat the musculoskeletal system
o Drugs used to treat infection
Drugs affecting the general health of the body
o Nutrition
o Herbal and dietary supplemental therapy
o Substance abuse
Learning Activities and Teaching Methods:
Lectures, Clinical Cases, Assignments, in class discussion
Assessment Methods:
Quizzes, mid-term and final exam
Assessment:
Assessment Type
Weight (Percentage)
Continuous Assessment – projects and assignments
20%
Continuous Assessment – tests and midterm exam
30%
Continuous Assessment – participation in class
10%
Final Exam
40%
Attendance Regulations:
Students are required to attend all classes.
Course Requirements:
Page 3 of 7



No late homework/projects/coursework will be accepted and no make-up tests/exams will
be given unless there is a serious reason. Documented evidence is required to support such
cases.
Plagiarism in all assessment work is a serious offense which leads to severe punishment.
Please consult the relevant reading material before coming to the lecture.
Grading Policy:
Letter Grade
Meaning
Numerical Grade
Grade Points
A
Excellent
93-100
4.0
90-92
3.7
87-89
3.3
B
83-86
3.0
B-
80-82
2.7
77-79
2.3
C
73-76
2.0
C-
70-72
1.7
67-69
1.3
D
63-66
1.0
D-
60-62
0.7
0-59
0.0
AB+
C+
D+
F
Very Good
Good
Poor but Acceptable
Failure
Required Textbooks/Readings:
Title
Author(s)
Publisher
Clayton’s Basic
Pharmacology for
Nurses, 18th edition
Willihnganz,
M., Elsevier
Gurevitz, S.L., Clayton,
B.D.
Year
ISBN
2020
Ebook
9780323570954
Year
ISBN
2018
ISBN-13: 978129584732
Recommended Textbooks/Readings:
Title
Author(s)
Publisher
Goodman and
Gilman’s The
Pharmacological
Basis of
Therapeutics, 13th
edition
Brunton,
L,
Hilal- McGraw Hill
Dandan R, Knollmann,
B.C
Page 4 of 7
Weekly Schedule:
Week
Date
1
04 Oct
Topic
Applying Pharmacology to Nursing Practice:


2
11 Oct
18 Oct





4
25 Oct




5
01 Nov
Chapters 6-11
Principles of medication administration and
medication safety
Percutaneous administration
Enteral administration
Parenteral administration: safe preparation
of parenteral medications
Parenteral administration: intradermal,
subcutaneous and intramuscular routes
Parenteral administration: intravenous
route
Drugs affecting the autonomic and central
nervous system

Chapters 3, 4, and 5
Drug action across the lifespan
The Nursing process and pharmacology
Patient education to promote health
Atlas of medication administration

Chapters 1, 2
Drug definitions, standards, and
information sources
Basic principles of drug action and drug
interactions
Applying Pharmacology to Nursing Practice:



3
Assigned Readings
Chapters 12-16
Drugs affecting the autonomic nervous
system
Drugs used for sleep
Drugs used for neurodegenerative
disorders
Drugs used for anxiety disorders
Drugs used to depressive and bipolar
disorders
Drugs affecting the autonomic and central
nervous system
Chapters 17-19
Page 5 of 7



Drugs used to psychoses
Drugs used for seizure disorders
Drugs used for pain management
6
08 Nov
Midterm exam
7-8
15 and
22 Nov
Drugs affecting the cardiovascular system









9
29 Nov

10
06 Dec


13 Dec
Chapters 31-34
Drugs used to treat oral disorders
Drugs used to treat gastroesophageal
reflux and peptic ulcer diseases
Drugs used to treat nausea and vomiting
Drugs used to treat constipation and
diarrhea
Drugs that affect the endocrine system




Chapters 29 and 30
Drugs used to treat upper respiratory
disease
Drugs used to treat lower respiratory
disease
Drugs affecting the digestive system


11
Introduction to cardiovascular disease and
metabolic syndrome
Drugs used to treat dyslipidemias
Drugs used to treat hypertension
Drugs used to treat dysrhythmias
Drugs used to treat angina pectoris
Drugs used to treat peripheral vascular
disease
Drugs used to treat thromboembolic
disorders
Drugs used to treat heart failure
Drugs used for diuresis
Drugs affecting the respiratory system

Chapters 20-28
Chapters 35-38
Chapters 39-40
Drugs used to treat diabetes mellitus
Drugs used to treat thyroid disease
Corticosteroids
Gonadal hormones
Drugs affecting the reproductive system
Page 6 of 7


12
20 Dec
Drugs used in obstetrics
Drugs used in men’s and women’s health
Drugs affecting other body systems





Chapters 41-45 and
Chapters 46-48
Drugs used to treat disorders of the urinary
system
Drugs used to treat glaucoma and other
eye disorders
Drugs used to treat cancer
Drugs used to treat the musculoskeletal
system
Drugs used to treat infection
Drugs affecting the general health of the body



13
03 Jan
14 -15
TBA
Nutrition
Herbal and dietary supplemental therapy
Substance abuse
Study Week - Review session
Final Exam
Page 7 of 7