NUR 3145
Pharmacology
Spring 2014-Term A
UNIVERSITY OF WEST FLORIDA
College of Arts and Sciences
SCHOOL OF ALLIED HEALTH & LIFE SCIENCES
DEPARTMENT OF NURSING
Course Number and Title:
NUR 3145 Pharmacology
Credit Hours:
3 semester hours
Instructor Information:
Susan Harrell, MSN, RN
Adjunct Instructor
Cell Phone: (575) 932-8548
Email: sharrell2@uwf.edu
Prerequisites: Permission required. It is assumed that most students enrolled are RNs who are
pursuing a BSN, or are Health Sciences majors. It is expected that all students have a solid
background in the physical and social sciences.
Course Description: This course provides basic pharmacokinetics and physiologic information,
including actions, side effects, and interactions of drugs that are widely used. This course focuses
on the principles and concepts of pharmacology and related nursing practices.
ACADEMIC LEARNING COMPACT
Content
Use the concepts of nursing theory, research and practice, based on the foundation of the
arts and sciences courses, in the provision of care to diverse clients of all ages
o Recall pharmacodynamic principles
o Group drug actions and therapies with disease states
o Describe the uses, actions, effects and nursing implications of general
classifications of drugs and selected specific drugs
Critical Thinking
Incorporate socio cultural, ethnic, religious, and other unique individual considerations in the
plan of care
o Apply the principles of pharmacology relative to pharmacotherapeutics across age
levels including the effect of race, gender, ethnic group, and special populations.
Communication *
Uses media resources and information technologies to enhance knowledge base
o Investigate media resources and information technologies to enhance knowledge
base of pharmacology
Integrity/Values
Demonstrate accountability, responsibility, authority, and professionalism based on the
American Nurses Association Code of Ethics in own professional nursing practice
o Analyze the responsibilities of the nurse when administering drugs
Project Management
Project Conceptualization
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o Integrates discipline concepts, resources, and research appropriately
o Apply pharmacological research to nursing practice
*This Student Learning Outcome will be tracked in the capstone pathway!
TEXTS:
Required:
Lehne, R. (2013). Pharmacology for nursing care. (8th ed). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier.
ISBN 978-1-4377-3582-6
Or
Pharmacology for Nursing Care - Pageburst E-Book on VitalSource, 8th Edition
ISBN: 9781437735840 available at
https://evolve.elsevier.com/cs/product/9781437735840?role=student
Be sure to sign up for the free online Student Resources:
https://evolve.elsevier.com/Lehne
Recommended:
You may find it helpful to have access to a current drug handbook as well. There are also many
apps available through your smart devices such as phones, notebooks, etc.
WEBSITES:
Required:
If you do not already have accounts on these sites, please sign up for one – both are free. You
may have assigned readings from them throughout the semester or use them as sources of
information:
Medscape Nursing: www.medscape.com/nurses
Nursing Center: www.nursingcenter.com
Suggested:
The following are sites designed either for NPs/PAs or primary care providers – both of whom
prescribe medications, so there is a lot of drug related information on the sites. If you think this
might be in your future – check them out. They are also free.
http://www.clinicaladvisor.com/ A site designed for nurse practitioners and physician assistants.
http://www.consultant360.com/ A site designed for primary care providers
Special Technology Utilized by Students
This course is being offered completely on-line. Each student in this course will be required to:
1. have Internet access on a regular basis at home or work in order to complete assignments.
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2. utilize your UWF student email account for all correspondence.
3. have access to word processing software.
Note: PowerPoint is available on the computers at UWF and through eDesktop.
4. have access to Adobe Acrobat Reader © to open PDF files that are used during the
course.
5. log on several times during each week to respond to emails and participate in threaded
discussions.
6. be familiar with D2L course discussion, Dropbox, exam functions.
7. access the online library and search for and retrieve research articles.
8. communicate problems and concerns with the instructor immediately in order to continue
moving forward in this course.
If you need additional software (such as Adobe Acrobat, Flash Player, etc) to view the
components of the course, go to the UWF eLearning home page
https://elearning.uwf.edu/secure/index.cfm and click on the link for Software Viewers and
Converters, where you can download them at no cost.
Evaluation/Grading:
A variety of assignments will be included for grading and will have a set number of points.
These will be described in more detail in the online course itself. Rubrics will be provided as
appropriate. A total of 300 points is possible in the course, broken down as follows:
Threaded Discussions (7 at 5 - 10 points each)
Case Studies (3 at 30 points each)
Exams (5 at 30 points each)
Total
60 points
90 points
150 points
300 points
Grading Scale % (points)
A
B+
BC
D+
D-
93 - 100% (278 – 300 points)
87 – 89% (260 – 269 points)
80 – 82% (241 – 247 points)
73 – 76% (218 – 229 points)
67 – 69% * (200 – 208 points)
60 – 62%* (180 – 187 points)
AB
C+
CD
F
90 – 92% (270 – 277 points)
83 – 86% (248 – 259 points)
77 – 79% (230 – 240 points)
70 – 72%* (209 – 217 points)
63 – 66%* (188 – 199 points)
0 – 59% * ≤ 179 points
* Constitutes failure in this course for nursing majors
Satisfactory completion of the course is based on satisfactory achievement of course student
learning outcomes. By the end of the semester, a student in the Nursing Major must achieve a
combined grade of at least 73% on all course assignments & quizzes. The Student who fails to
demonstrate the course student learning outcomes must repeat the course in its entirety.
Topical Outline
1. Introduction to Pharmacology
2. Basic Principles of Pharmacology
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3. Drug Therapy across the Lifespan
4. Peripheral Nervous System Drugs
5. Central Nervous System Drugs
6. Diuretics
7. Drugs that Affect the Heart, Blood Vessels and Blood
8. Drugs for Endocrine Disorders and Glucocorticoids in Nonendocrine Disorders
9. Chemotherapy of Infectious Diseases
Late assignments
Due to the nature of the learning environment, due dates for all assignments are published by the
first day of class and are posted in the calendar and the weekly schedule. All
assignments/activities are to be electronically submitted in the designated area (drop box or
discussion boards), and exams/quizzes are completed online.
Students will not be permitted to submit papers or take exams after the time/date published**
Late work will be placed in the following file:
Work will NOT be accepted after the assignment/activity is electronically closed and a grade of
ZERO will be recorded.
**NOTE: If during the semester you are ill or have a problem that prevents you from
completing assignments by the due date please contact the instructor PRIOR to that day and an
alternate due date may be arranged. Otherwise, assignments MUST BE SUBMITTED by the due
date published on the calendar and in this syllabus.
Instructor Availability
I can be reached via e-mail at sharrell2@uwf.edu for assistance. Please allow 24 hours during the
workweek to respond to any course work questions. Weekend e-mails may take me longer to
respond to. If you are really desperate, you may contact me on my cell phone (call or text – just
be sure to identify yourself to me) between the hours of 9 AM – 9 PM Central Time. My
number is 575-932-8548. (Note: I am generally unavailable on most Tuesdays as I am in the
hospital for a 12 hour shift.)
Reference Format for Written Work
All written work should be formatted according to the guidelines in the most recent edition of
APA (currently the 6th edition published in 2009). Professional papers for the nursing
department must have the correct title page, formatting, citation, and references according to
APA. No abstract is required. It is expected that the students familiarize themselves with
APA guidelines. The UWF Writing Lab provides resources summarizing the APA manual to
assist you; the Writing Lab will also preview your papers prior to submission. The Purdue OWL
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(http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/) is an excellent online resource for APA
format. The instructor WILL NOT provide feedback or corrections for APA format, you will
either receive points for correct usage, or have points subtracted for incorrect format.
NOTE: Wikipedia is not an acceptable reference.
University Policy on Academic Conduct/Student Code of Conduct
As members of the University of West Florida, we commit ourselves to honesty.
As we strive for excellence in performance, integrity is essential. Honesty in our academic work
is vital, and we will not knowingly act in ways which erode that integrity. Accordingly, we
pledge not to cheat, nor to tolerate cheating, nor to plagiarize the work of others. We pledge to
share community resources in ways that are responsible and that comply with established
policies of fairness. Cooperation and competition are means to high achievement and are
encouraged. Indeed, cooperation is expected unless our directive is to individual performance.
We will compete constructively and professionally for the purpose of stimulating high
performance standards. Finally, we accept adherence to this set of expectations for academic
conduct as a condition of membership in the UWF academic community.
Academic dishonesty is a serious offense and will be taken seriously. The Student Code of
Conduct sets forth the rules, regulations and expected behavior of students enrolled at the
University of West Florida. Violations of any rules, regulations, or behavioral expectations may
result in a charge of violating the Student Code of Conduct. It is the student’s responsibility to
read the Student Code of Conduct and conduct themselves accordingly. You may access the
current Student Code of Conduct at http://www.uwf.edu/judicialaffairs.
Plagiarism Policy
Plagiarism is defined by the University as "the act of representing the ideas, words, creations, or
work of another as one's own. Should a student be found plagiarizing in a paper, the student will
be reported by the faculty member to the Nursing Program Director & follow the process
described in the University's Student Life Handbook. Plagiarism is a serious offense in academia
& may result in expulsion from the University. The UWF library has an excellent tutorial on
plagiarism found at http://library.uwf.edu/Tutorials/module_plagiarism/default.htm
TurnIt In
UWF maintains a university license agreement for an online text matching service called
TurnItIn. The instructor may use the TurnItIn service to determine the originality of student
papers. If the instructor submits your paper to TurnItIn, it will be stored in a TurnItIn database
for as long as the service remains in existence. If you object to this storage of your paper:
1. You must notify the instructor in writing no later than two weeks after the start of this
class.
2. The instructor will utilize other services and techniques to evaluate your work for
evidence of appropriate authorship practices.
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Support Services ---- Students with Special Needs
The Student Disability Resource Center SDRC at the University of West Florida supports an
inclusive learning environment for all students. If there are aspects of the instruction or design of
this course that hinder your full participation, such as time limited exams, inaccessible web
content, or the use of non-captioned videos and podcasts, please notify the instructor or the
SDRC as soon as possible. You may contact the SDRC office by e-mail at sdrc@uwf.edu or by
phone at (850) 474-2387. Appropriate academic accommodations will be determined based on
the documented needs of the individual.
Weather Emergency Information
In the case of severe weather or other emergency, the campus might be closed and classes
cancelled. Official closures and delays are announced on the UWF website and broadcast on
WUWF-FM.


WUWF-FM (88.1MHz) is the official information source for the university. Any
pertinent information regarding closings, cancellations, and the re-opening of campus
will be broadcast.
In the event that hurricane preparation procedures are initiated, the UWF Home Web
Page and Argus will both provide current information regarding hurricane preparation
procedures, the status of classes and the closing of the university.
Online Exams - Test Taking Information
It is recommended that no timed, online exams/quizzes in the course be attempted during 3:006:00am CST because this is when the eLearning maintenance window runs. Technical
difficulties may be encountered at this time. If you initiate an exam that overlaps with the
eLearning maintenance times and experience technical difficulties, your score may not translate
accurately and may be lost all together resulting in a grade of zero, “0” for the assignment.
If you experience any other technical problems or errors during any timed exam/quiz, you are to
notify your instructor via email immediately and then notify the helpdesk at helpdesk@uwf.edu
or (850) 474-2075. Failure to contact the Help Desk for any technical problems will result in a
grade of zero, "0" for the assignment. If you are unable to get immediate assistance from the
Help Desk staff during the exam or assignment attempts, but have documented the problem in an
email or voice mail, you may attempt to restart the exam using the same browser, or attempt to
re-enter the exam with another browser. If you are still unable to restart the exam and continue
with saving, please note that for your final submitted score to be recorded, you must still prove
that you documented the original technical problem with the Help Desk via email or phone.
Failure to do so will result in an automatic grade of zero, "0" being assigned.
Important Dates to Remember
See the UWF Academic Calendar for Spring 2014 Term A
http://uwf.edu/registrar/Academic%20Calendars%20for%202013-2014.pdf
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ASSIGNMENTS – Spring
Our weeks during this session will run from Monday mornings to Sunday nights, closing out at
11:59 PM. The exception to this will be the week of finals. Although a final exam will not be
given, you will have a final assignment that is a comprehensive geriatric case study that will be
due on Monday night of Finals Week. Assignment due dates are listed here in the syllabus, in a
separately posted calendar, and as part of the online course itself.
Online Discussions:
Discussions can be an important part of online learning, and help keep you engaged in the
course. The minimum requirements are 1 original post and 1 response to another student’s post.
You are encouraged to post more than the minimum. As you participate in online discussions, I
expect you to demonstrate thoughtfulness and insight. If the extent of your participation is “I
agree with what Susie Q said”, and that’s it, you will not get full credit! Feel free to agree with
Susie Q (or disagree), and explain further your point of view. Cite your sources of information
when appropriate. Some of the discussions may be more your opinion and would not need to
include or refer to a particular source. For the most part, these discussions should be fairly
informal and provide a means for you to connect with and get to know your fellow classmates
and to provide a forum for the sharing of ideas. I also expect you to read what your classmates
are saying – don’t just be the first one to post to the discussion and never return to see what
others have to say! Disagreements may certainly take place online, but please be sure that you
show respect for opinions other than your own. Some general guidelines to consider:
 You should submit your initial post(s) early in the session and your subsequent responses
to the posts of other learners at timely intervals within the duration of the session. Keep
in mind the goal is to have a dynamic discussion that lasts throughout the entire session.
Minimum deadlines for posting have been set.
 Your posts and responses should be thorough and thoughtful. Just posting an "I agree" or
"Good ideas" will not be considered adequate. Support your statements with examples,
experiences, or references. You are, however, encouraged to be brief — keep each post
and response to one or two paragraphs. Keep in mind that your fellow learners will be
reading and responding to you, too.
 Discussions occur when there is dialogue. So, build upon the posts and responses of other
learners to create discussion threads. Make sure you revisit the discussion forum and
respond (if necessary) to what other learners have posted to your initial responses.
 When relevant, add to the discussion by including prior knowledge, work experiences,
references, Web sites, resources, etc. (giving credit when appropriate).
 Your contributions to the discussions (posts and responses) should be complete and free
of grammatical or structural errors.
 Refrain from using abbreviations such as "lol" and "imho". Though your language need
not be as formal as it would be in an academic paper, you should use a tone that would be
similar to a class discussion. And, some in the class may not be familiar with these
abbreviations (especially your instructor!).
Instructor Participation
I may respond to student’s posts during the discussion, but I will not be responding to every
student post. Research has shown that too much instructor participation can stifle student
discussion. Do note I will read EVERY post and I usually provide general feedback at the
conclusion of the discussion. A grading rubric is provided on the next page.
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Discussion Rubric
Performance Indicators
Criteria
Relevance
Insight
Support
Substance
of
Response(s)
Timing of
Posts
Unacceptable
Satisfactory
Exemplary
(0 points)
The posting does not
directly address the
question or problem
posed by the discussion
activity.
(1 point)
The posting addresses
key issues, questions, or
problems related to the
discussion activity, but
in some cases, only
indirectly. It does not
always apply course
concepts fully.
(1 point)
The posting does offer
some insight, analysis,
or observation to the
topic but may not
demonstrate a full
understanding or
knowledge of concepts
and ideas pertaining to
the discussion topic.
(2 points)
The posting directly
addresses key issues,
questions, or problems
related to the discussion
activity. The posting
applies course concepts
well.
(1 point)
The posting generally
supports claims and
opinions with evidence
or argument, but may
leave some gaps where
unsupported opinions
still appear.
(1 point)
The response
demonstrates respect for
peer’s ideas without
contributing to or
building further
discussion.
(1 point)
Only 1 post was
submitted within the
specified time frame.
(2 points)
The posting supports all
claims and opinions with
either rational argument
or evidence.
(0 points)
The posting does not
offer any significant
insight, analysis, or
observation related to
the topic. No knowledge
or understanding is
demonstrated regarding
concepts and ideas
pertaining to the
discussion topic.
(0 points)
The posting does not
support its claims with
either evidence or
argument. The posting
contains largely
unsupported opinion.
(0 points)
The response was
lacking in respect and
offered nothing new to
the discussion
(0 points)
No posts were submitted
within the specified time
frame.
(2 points)
The posting offers
original or thoughtful
insight, analysis, or
observation that
demonstrates a strong
grasp of concepts and
ideas pertaining to the
discussion topic.
(2 points)
The response actively
stimulates and sustains
further discussion by
building on peers’
responses.
(2 points)
At least 2 posts were
submitted within the
specified time frame.
Total = 10
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Written Work
This will include the three Case Studies that are assigned, which encompass some of the most
common health problems we face in our society – cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and issues
related to the aging process. Most of your writing will be somewhat informal, as you are
answering critical thinking questions, not writing a formal paper, but I do expect complete
sentences and correct spelling and grammar. References are to be in APA format. I will,
for the most part, be evaluating the content of your work with less emphasis on the format.
These assignments will go to the Dropbox. Feedback for each assignment will be posted in the
Dropbox area as well, so be sure to check what I have written to you. Keep in mind you will
need to use other resources in addition to your textbook when answering the case study
questions. Case Study assignments will be graded as follows:
Case Study Grading Criteria
Level of Achievement
General Approach and Mastery of Subject
Point Value
Answers all questions
Answers are thorough and descriptive
Proficient
Supports ideas with appropriate rationales
27 – 30 points
Grammar, spelling and sentience structure are appropriate
Uses at least 3 current, professional references (1 of course can be
your text!)
Correctly uses APA format, including a reference page
Answered most of questions
Answers are adequate but less thorough
Adequate
Does not include supporting rationale
22 – 26 points
Some misspellings or incorrect sentence structure or grammar
References are incomplete or outdated or not appropriate
Inconsistent with APA format
Answered some of questions
Answers are incomplete or do not demonstrate adequate
Limited
understanding of material
≤ 21 points
No references, or references are outdated or lacking
Does not use APA format, no reference page included
No Submission
0 points
Reading Assignments: You will be assigned to read selected chapters in the book, although I
don’t necessarily expect you to read every single word (even though we won’t cover the entire
book , there’s still a lot of chapters!). There are also outlines/notes posted for each of the
assigned chapters as well. There may be some content you are already quite familiar with and
you only need to scan some of the highlights. Other areas you may need to read in more detail.
Objectives will be posted with each module - use these to help guide your learning. Each chapter
has a review at the end with some Key Points highlighted. Most will also have a Summary of
Major Nursing Implications interspersed throughout the chapter. You may want to read those
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first, determine how well you know those key concepts, and then read from that chapter those
things you are not comfortable with. The text should not be your only source of information
anyway when you are doing your case studies or participating in discussions. There may be
some “handouts” linked with each week which you may find useful as well as links to
associated websites.
Exams: I will expect that you answer the exams on your own without assistance from other
people. You will be able to use your text or other resources, although there will be a time limit
for completing the exam. Once you start an exam, you will need to complete it at that sitting as
you will not be allowed to enter and exit the exam multiple times, so be sure you choose a time
that you will not be interrupted. The exams will be relatively short – with approximately 30
multiple choice questions – with a timeframe that will allow approximately 2 – 3 minutes per
question. Once you open the exam, it must be completed in a single sitting within the time frame
allowed. Exams will be available several days prior to the due date. There will be a total of 5
exams, accessed under the heading labeled as Quizzes.
Overview – Weekly Assignments – More detail will be available in the actual modules
Week 1
Discussion – Post Biographical information about yourself, why you are in the course, career,
goals, etc. A single post is all that is required, although you may feel free to respond to other
students. Due 1/8 by 11:59 PM (5 pts.) NOTE: If you enroll late – you can still post to this!!
Discussion – “New Drug” Report. Do an online search and find a new drug that was approved
for use by the FDA in the last year or so (in 2013 or about the last half of 2012). Provide the
following information:
 trade and generic name of the drug
 pharmaceutical company producing it
 classification of the drug - what type of drug is it
 what the drug is used for
 whether there are any contraindications to using the drug,
 some of the adverse reactions that most concern you.
 if you had the disease or disorder for which the drug was developed, would you want to
take this drug? Why or why not?
 list your source or sources of where you found your information.
1st post – your report – due no later than 1/10 by 11:59 PM
2nd post – your response to another students report – due by 1/12 at 11:59 PM (5 pts.)
Week 2 – Module 1 – Pharm Basics; Lifespan Considerations
Text – Ch. 1 – 11
Discussion – Medication/Medical Errors – 1st post due by 1/15 no later than 11:59 PM; 2nd post
due by 1/18 no later than 11:59 PM. Discussion forum closes on 1/19 at 11:59 PM. (10 pts.)
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Week 3
Study for Exam 1
This exam will cover Module 1. It opens on 1/21 at 12 Noon and closes on 1/26 at 11:59 PM.
(30 pts.)
Week 4 – Module 2 - Neuro
Text – Ch. 12 – 19 (Dig in – there is some complex material here!)
Week 5
Study for Exam 2
This exam covers Module 2. It opens at 12 Noon on 2/3 and closes on 2/9 at 11:59 PM.
(30 pts.)
Week 6 – Module 3 - Neuro
Text – Ch. 20 – 25; Ch. 32 & 35
Discussion – Psych Meds - 1st post due by 10/2 no later than 11:59 PM; 2nd post due by 10/5 no
later than 11:59 PM. Discussion forum closes on 10/6 at 11:59 PM. (10 pts.)
Week 7 – Module 4 – Neuro
Text – Ch. 26 – 30; 31
Discussion – Pain Meds/Prescription Drugs and Abuse - 1st post due by 2/19 no later than 11:59
PM; 2nd post due by 2/22 no later than 11:59 PM. Discussion forum closes on 2/23 at 11:59 PM.
(10 pts.)
Week 8
Study for Exam 3
This exam covers Modules 3 & 4. It will open at 12 Noon on 2/24 and closes on 3/2 at 11:59
PM. (30 pts.)
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Week 9 - Module 5 - CV
Text – Ch. 41; Ch. 43 – 47
Case Study – CV – due in Dropbox by 3/9 at 11:59 PM (30 pts.)
Week 10 - Module 6 - CV
Text – Ch. 48 – 53
Discussion – Medications vs. lifestyle changes - 1st post due by 3/19 no later than 11:59 PM; 2nd
post due by 3/22 no later than 11:59 PM. Discussion forum closes on 3/23 at 11:59 PM. (10 pts.)
Week 11 – Module 7 – Endocrine/Diabetes
Text – Ch. 57 – 60; Ch. 72
Case Study – Diabetes – due in Dropbox by 3/30 at 11:59 PM. (30 pts.)
Week 12
Study for Exam 4
This exam covers Modules 5, 6 & 7. It will open at 12 Noon on 3/31 and is due by 4/6 at 11:59
PM. (30 pts.)
Week 13 - Module 8 – Infectious Disorders
Text – Ch. 83 – 88; 91 – 92
Discussion – Antibiotic use/overuse? 1st post due by 4/9 no later than 11:59 PM; 2nd post due by
4/12 no later than 11:59 PM. Discussion forum closes on 4/13 at 11:59 PM. (10 pts.)
Week 14 – Easter Week – Since this is an important holiday for many, the exam will not be
due until Monday night.
Study for Exam 5
This exam covers Module 8. It will open at 12 Noon on 4/14 and is due by 4/21 at 11:59 PM.
(30 pts.)
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Week 15
There is no new content for this week.
Comprehensive Case Study – Geriatrics Focus – due in dropbox by 4/28 at 11:59 PM
Week 16 – Finals Week
Comprehensive Geriatric Case Study due on Monday, 4/28 at 11:59 PM
And You Are DONE!!!
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