GEORGIA BAPTIST COLLEGE OF NURSING
OF MERCER UNIVERSITY
NUR 312 Pharmacology in Nursing II
Unit II: Drugs That Affect Physical Regulation:
Immune and Antineoplastic
Lesson Objectives:
At the completion of this lesson the student will:
1.
Describe the characteristics of an immunocompromised state.
2.
Discuss education as it relates to the adult and child requiring
immunization.
3.
Describe the role of the nurse in immunotherapy.
4.
Identify an appropriate immunization schedule for individuals across the
life span.
5.
Differentiate the role of the nurse as it relates to care of the client receiving
either immunosuppressant or immunomodulating agents.
6.
Discuss major principles of chemotherapy.
7.
Describe the effects of chemotherapy on the immune system.
8.
Identify medications commonly used as antineoplastic agents.
9.
Differentiate among antineoplastic agents as to mechanism of action,
route of administration, absorption and rate, adverse effects,
contraindications and interactions.
10.
Describe common toxicities of antineoplastic chemotherapy.
12.
Discuss age-related considerations for cancer treatment in the elderly and
in the child.
13.
Apply nursing interventions necessary to safely administer antineoplastic
drugs and to enhance client compliance with their treatment regimen.
14.
Describe nursing management common to most antineoplastic agents.
Content Outline:
1.
Review immunity and immune response in health and illness, physiology
of cell cycle, and pathophysiology of benign and malignant neoplasms
2.
Acquired immunity -- Active & passive
3.
Immunizing agents
3.1
Immunoglobulins: Exemplar -- RhoGam
3.2
Antitoxins & antivenins:
Exemplars -- tetanus antitoxin & black widow spider
antivenin
3.3
Bacterial vaccines: Exemplar -- pneumococcal vaccine
3.4
Viral vaccines:
Exemplars -- Hepatitis B, influenza, MMR, polio, rabies, DPT
3.5
Infants and children: CDC recommended schedule
3.11 Diptheria-tetanus-pertussis
3.12 Polio
3.13 Measles-mumps-rubella
3.14 Hepatitis B
3.15 Haemophilus influenzae type B
3.16 Varicella zoster
3.6
Adults
3.21 Tetanus toxoid
3.22 Influenza
3.23 Pneumococcal
3.24 Hepatitis B
4.
Immunosuppressant agents
4.1
Azothioprine (Imuran)
4.2
Cyclosporine (Sandimmune)
4.3
Acyclovir (Zovirax)
5.
Immunomodulatory agents
5.1
Lymphokines
5.2
Interferons
5.3
Interleukins
6.
Principles of cancer chemotherapy
7.
Antineoplastic Drugs: Dynamics, Kinetics, Therapeutics, Side Effects,
Adverse Reactions, and Nursing Considerations
7.1. Alkylating agents
9.11 Cisplatin (platinol)
9.12 Mechlorethamine (Mustargen)
7.2.
Antimetabolites
9.2.1. Methotrexate (Mexate, Folex)
9.2.2. Fluoouracil (5-FU, Adrucil)
7.3
Antibiotic antineoplastic agents- Doxorubicin (Adriamycin)
7.4.
Mitotic inhibitors
9.4.1. Vinblastine (Velban)
9.4.2. Vincristine (oncovin)
7.5
Miscellaneous antineoplastic agents
8.
Hormones and hormone antagonists
8.1. Corticosteroids
8.2. Estrogen
8.3. Antiestrogen
8.4. Androgens
8.5. Progestin
9.
Legal & ethical implications of administering antineoplastics,
immunizations, & immunosuppressants
Teaching/Learning Activities:
1.
2.
3.
Lecture/discussion
Handouts
Case studies
Critical Thinking Component:
1.
2.
Drug correlation assignment in which correlation between drug therapy
and client clinical status is analyzed with emphasis on nursing care during
drug therapy.
Discussion of case studies related to infants and adults requiring
immunosuppressant therapy or complex drug therapy using antineoplastic
agents.
Required Readings:
Aschenbrenner,D.S., Cleveland, L., & Venable,L.J., & (2002). Drug therapy
in nursing. (pp. 583-610;1127-1133; 875- 906; 907-930). Philadelphia:
Lippincott.