NURS 360 Pharmacology
Current course
Credits: 1 Credit
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or consent
of the instructor
Catalog description: This course is designed to
provide the student with the pharmacologic
basis for understanding drug therapies.
Course outline:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Drug Action: Pharmaceutic,
pharmacokinentic, pharmacodynamic
phases
Principles of Drug Administration
Contemporary Issues in
Pharmacology
a. Drug approval process
b. Transcultural and Genetic
considerations
c. Drug interaction and Overthe-counter drugs
d. Drugs of abuse
e. Herbal therapy and
implications
f. Pediatric & Geriatric
pharmacology
Nutrition & Electrolytes
Autonomic Nervous System Agents
a. Adrenergics and Adrenergic
blockers
b. Cholinergic and
anticholinergics
Neurologic and Neuromuscular
Agents
a. CNS stimulants
b. CNS depressants
c. Drugs for pain management
Proposed course
Credits: 1-2 credits
(1SH non-nursing majors/2SH nursing majors)
Rationale: Program and Student assessment data from the past 5
years identified that one credit was insufficient foundation for
nursing majors. HERS majors only require 1 credit of pharmacology.
Prerequisite: Generic Option; HERS major; elective for RN-to-BS
Option; or consent of instructor.
Rationale: Nursing students in the major will take this course
along with other foundational nursing content to facilitate
integration of this content. Other prerequisites are unchanged.
Catalog description: Introduces the fundamental principles of
pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics,
pharmacotherapy, adverse drug reactions, major drug classes
and related implications for individuals receiving drugs. Nursing
students will incorporate various systems of measurement,
conversion between systems, and calculation of drug dosages
and rates. The 1 SH option is only available for non-nursing
majors.
Rationale: Expanded content to prepare students to practice in
healthcare environments where high levels of pharmacology
expertise are needed for safe practice.
Course outline: Nursing section ONLY
Unit 1: Overview General concepts
1. Drug Action: pharmaceutic, pharmacokinetic, and
pharmacodynamic phases
2. Nursing Process and patient teaching
3. Principles of drug administration
a. Five plus rights of drug administration
b. 2007 National patient safety goals
c. Disposal of medication
d. Additional safety risks for safe administration
e. Special considerations (factors that modify
drug response)
f. Guidelines for administration
g. Forms and routes
h. Nursing implications for administration of
parenteral meds
i. Developmental needs of pediatric patients
j. Technologic advances
Unit 2: Medication and calculations
1. Systems of measurement with conversion (metric,
apothecary, household, conversion)
2. Methods of calculation
a. Interpreting oral and injectable drug labels
i. Basic formula
ii. Ratio and proportion
iii. Fractional equation
iv. Dimensional analysis
v. Body weight, BSA
b. Calculations of oral dosages
d.
e.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
Anticonvulsants
Drugs for neurologic
disorders (Parkinsonism,
Alzheimer’s disease)
f. Drugs for Neuromuscular
disorders (Myasthenia
gravis, MS, spasm)
Psychiatric Agents
Antiinflammatory and antiinfective
agents
Immunologic Agents
Cancer Agents
Respiratory Agents
Cardiovascular Agents
Gastrointestinal Agents
Endocrine Agents
i. Capsules, tablets, liquids
ii. Interpreting labels
iii. Drug differentiation
iv. Calculation, body weight, BSA,
v. Administration via NG tube
c. Calculations of injectable dosages
i. Injectable preparations
ii. Vials, ampoules, syringes
iii. Interpreting injectable labels
iv. Intradermal and subcutaneous
injections
v. Insulin injections
vi. Intramuscular injections
d. Calculations of intravenous fluids
i. Continuous, intermittent, secondary
sets without IV pumps
ii. Intermittent infusion
adapters/devises
iii. Direct IV injections
iv. Electronic intravenous regulators
v. Patient controlled analgesia
vi. Calculating flow rates for IV drugs
e. Pediatric drug calculations
f. Oral, IM
g. Per body weight, per body surface area,
h. Calculations and injectables
Unit 3: contemporary issue in pharmacology
1. The drug approval process
2. Transcultural and genetic considerations
3. Drug interactions and over the counter drugs
4. Drugs of abuse
5. Herbal therapy with nursing implications
6. Pediatric pharmacology
7. Geriatric pharmacology
8. Medication administration in community setting
9. Role of the nurse in drug research
Unit 4: Nutrition and electrolytes
1. Vitamin and mineral replacement
2. Fluid and electrolyte replacement
3. Nutritional support
Unit 5: Autonomic Nervous system agents
1. Adrenergic and adrenergic blockers
2. Cholinergic and anticholinergics
Unit 6: Neurologic and neuromuscular agents
1. Central nervous system stimulants
2. Central nervous system depressants
3. Anticonvulsants
4. Drugs for neurologic disorders: parkinsonism and
Alzheimer’s disease
5. Drugs for neuromuscular disorders :myasthemia gravis,
MS, muscle spasms
Unit 7 Pain and inflammation management agents
1. Anti-inflammatory drugs
2. Nonopioid and opioid analgesiscs
Unit 8 Psychiatric Agents
1. Antipsychotics and Anxiolytics
2. Antidepressants and mood stabilizers
Unit 9: antibacterial agents
1. Penicillins and cephalosporins
2. Macrolides, tetracyclines, aminoglycosides,
fluroquinolones
3. sufonamides
Unit 10: anti-infective agents
1. antituberculars, antifungals, peptides, metronidazole
2. antivirals, antimalarials, anthelmintics
Unite 11: immunologic agents
1. HIV and AIDS related drugs
2. Vaccines
Unit 12: antineoplastic agents
1. anticancer drugs
2. targeted therapies to treat cancer
3. biologic response modifiers
Unit 13: Respiratory agents
1. drugs for upper respiratory disorders
2. drugs for lower respiratory disorders
Unit 14: Cardiovascular agents
1. cardiac glycosides, antianginals, antidysrhythmics
2. diuretics
3. antihypertensives
4. anticoagulants, antiplatelets, thrombolytics
5. antilipidemics, peripheral vasodilators
Unit 15: Gastrointestinal agents
1. drugs for gastrointestinal tract
2. antiulcer drugs
Unit 16: Eye, ear, and skin agents
1. drugs for disorders of eye and ear
2. drugs for dermatologic disorders
Unit 17: endocrine agents
1. endocrine durgs; pituitary, thyroid, parathyroid,
adrenal disorders
2. antidiabetics
Unit 18: emergency agents
1. adult emergency drugs
Course outline: Non-nursing section
Unit 1: Overview General concepts
1. Drug Action: pharmacoceutic,
pharmacokinetic, and
pharmacodynamic phases
2. Teaching
3. Principles of drug administration
a. Five plus rights of drug administration
b. 2007 National patient safety goals
c. Disposal of medication
d. Special considerations (factors that modify drug
response)
e. Guidelines for administration
f. Forms and routes
Unit 2: contemporary issue in pharmacology
1. The drug approval process
2. Transcultural and genetic
considerations
3. Drug interactions and over the
counter drugs
4. Drugs of abuse
5. Herbal therapy
6. Pediatric pharmacology
7. Geriatric pharmacology
Unit 3: Nutrition and electrolytes
1. Vitamin and mineral replacement
2. Fluid and electrolyte replacement
3. Nutritional support
Unit 4: Autonomic Nervous system agents
1. Adrenergic and adrenergic
blockers
2. Cholinergic and anticholinergics
Unit 5: Neurologic and neuromuscular agents
1. Central nervous system
stimulants
2. Central nervous system depressants
3. Anticonvulsants
4. Drugs for neurologic disorders:
parkinsonism and Alzheimer’s
disease
5. Drugs for neuromuscular
disorders: myasthemia gravis,
MS, muscle spasms
Unit 6 Pain and inflammation management agents
1. Anti-inflammatory drugs
2. Nonopioid and opioid analgesiscs
Unit 7 Psychiatric Agents
1. Antipsychotics and Anxiolytics
2. Antidepressants and mood
stabilizers
Unit 8: antibacterial agents
1. Penicillins and cephalosporins
2. Macrolides, tetracyclines,
aminoglycosides, fluroquinolones
3. sufonamides
Unit 9: anti-infective agents
1. antituberculars, antifungals,
peptides, metronidazole
2. antivirals, antimalarials,
anthelmintics
Unite 10: immunologic agents
1. HIV and AIDS related drugs
2. Vaccines
Unit 11: antineoplastic agents
1. anticancer drugs
2. targeted therapies to treat cancer
3. biologic response modifiers
Unit 12: Respiratory agents
1. drugs for upper respiratory
disorders
2. drugs for lower respiratory
disorders
Unit 13: Cardiovascular agents
1. cardiac glycosides, antianginals,
antidysrhythmics
2. diuretics
3. antihypertensives
4. anticoagulants, antiplatelets,
thrombolytics
5. antilipidemics, peripheral
vasodilators
Unit 14: Gastrointestinal agents
1. drugs for gastrointestinal tract
2. antiulcer drugs
Unit 15: skin agents
1. drugs for dermatologic disorders
Unit 16: endocrine agents
1. endocrine drugs; pituitary,
thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal
disorders
2.antidiabetics
Rationale:
Course Requirements:
1. Attend class 1 hour per week.
2. Bring computer to class.
3. Students are expected to read from the
required text(s) and other assigned materials.
4. Participate in classroom discussions.
5. Complete exams/quizzes with a grade of “C”
or better.
6. Complete
assignments/quizzes/examinations as
indicated.
7. Failure to take quizzes/exams at scheduled
times will result in a score of zero.
8. Electronic devices (cell phones, PDA’s, etc.)
will not be allowed in the classroom on
examination or quiz days unless otherwise
specified by your instructor. Students must
receive approval of faculty prior to taping of
class sessions.
9. Cell phones should be turned off during
class time.
10.Students are expected to abide by all
University academic policies and procedures.
Course Requirements:
Course expectations/requirements
1. Attend class and notify the professor of
absences
2. Participate in class discussions and activities
3. Complete assignments on time
Evaluation of Learning: Quizzes/Examinations
Rationale: Student Accountability for learning.
That includes academic integrity policies.
Failure to do so may result in failure of the
course and/or dismissal from an academic
program.
Evaluation of Learning: Quizzes/Examinations