CLUSTER
Health Science Education
COURSE
Medical Assistant Advanced Pharmacology
WVEIS CODE
0734
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Within this course, instructional content will focus on advanced pharmacology. Course content will include the
uses, sources, forms and delivery routes of drugs. Knowledge will be gained in the area of drug classifications
and actions, along with legal implications regarding controlled substances and other medications. *This course
is recommended as an elective for the Allied Health Sciences Concentration (Medical Assisting Specialization).
SKILL SETS
Introduction to Advanced Pharmacology
Drug References
Agencies and Safety Guidelines
Medication Orders and Prescriptions
Drug Classification and Actions
Mathematical Applications in Pharmacy
Dosage Calculations
Medical Assistant Advanced Pharmacology
Skill Set
Knowledge Objectives
0734.1
Performance Objectives
0734.2
0734.3
0734.4
0734.5
Skill Set
Knowledge Objectives
WVEIS
0734
Introduction to Advanced Pharmacology
Students will demonstrate knowledge of

history and source of drugs.
Students will




determine the meaning of drugs and establish their origin and use.
compare the three types of drug names.
examine four sources of drugs and provide examples.
determine the three forms in which drugs are prepared, choosing examples and
the route of administration for each.
Drug References
Students will demonstrate knowledge of
0734.6
 PDR and other reference sources.
Performance Objectives Students will
0734.7
0734.8
0734.9
0734.10
Skill Set
Knowledge Objectives




determine the meaning of drugs and establish their origin and use.
compare the three types of drug names.
examine four sources of drugs and provide examples.
determine the three forms in which drugs are prepared, choosing examples and
the route of administration for each.
Agencies and Safety Guidelines
Students will demonstrate knowledge of
0734.11
 legal and ethical implications of medication administration.
Performance Objectives Students will
0734.11
0734.12
0734.13



0734.14
0734.15
0734.16
0734.17
0734.18





0734.19

determine the role of the FDA.
examine the drug approval process.
relate the function of the Drug Enforcement Agency and the purpose of the
Controlled Substance Act.
determine the meaning of a controlled substance.
recognize five schedules of controlled substances providing examples of each.
select the proper method for storing and dispensing a controlled substance.
implement documentation associated with controlled substances.
examine legal considerations associated with controlled substances and
prescription pads.
identify professions that can legally prescribe medication.
Skill Set
Knowledge Objectives
0734.20
Performance Objectives
0734.21
0734.22
0734.23
0734.24
0734.25
0734.26
Skill Set
Knowledge Objectives
0734.27
Performance Objectives
Medication Orders and Prescriptions
Students will demonstrate knowledge of

interpretation and documentation of medication orders including the parts of a
prescription.
Students will






determine the meaning of common pharmacology terms.
differentiate the information found on a prescription form.
utilize prescription abbreviations.
interpret medication orders.
examine the prescription guidelines for controlled substances.
demonstrate the proper procedure for phoning in prescription orders.
Drug Classification and Actions
Students will demonstrate knowledge of
 classification of drugs.
 factors that affect drug action.
 undesirable actions of given drugs.
Students will
0734.28
0734.29
0734.30
0734.31
0734.32
0734.33
0734.34







0734.37


examine how drugs are classified.
classify drugs using reference books.
relate therapeutic action of specific classifications of drugs.
compare therapeutic action and side effects of specific drugs.
determine common contraindications.
examine precautions and adverse reactions of specific drugs.
select the classification, action and side effects of over-the-counter (OTC)
drugs.
0734.35
 assess alternative medications and their action.
0734.36
 evaluate drug interactions and their consequences.
Skill Set
Mathematical Applications in Pharmacology
Knowledge Objectives Students will demonstrate knowledge of
mathematical computations related to dosage calculations.
conversion equations used in pharmacology.
Performance Objectives
0734.38
0734.39
0734.40
0734.41
0734.42
Students will





compare the systems of measurement commonly used in pharmacology.
differentiate metric, household and apothecary units of measure.
use metric, household and apothecary abbreviations.
utilize the fundamental units of the metric system.
convert quantities between the systems of measure.
 demonstrate the ability to use decimals, fractions, ratios, and proportions.
0734.43
0734.44
 demonstrate the ability to solve for x.
Skill Set
Dosage Calculations
Knowledge Objectives Students will demonstrate knowledge of
0734.45
 drug dosage calculations for both adults and children.
Performance Objectives Students will
0734.46
0734.47
0734.48
0734.49
0734.50





0734.51
0734.52


select steps in the calculation of drug doses.
interpret medication labels.
compare medication label information to medication order.
convert to the same units of measure.
articulate the proportion method and the formula method for calculating drug
doses.
compute drug doses using the proportion method and the formula method.
utilize the methods for calculating pediatric drug doses.