Bryant & Stratton College
Medical Assisting Program
AHLT 240 Pharmacology Competency Project & Rubric
Pharmacology is the science that deals with the origin, nature, chemistry, effects, and uses of drugs.
Pharmacology includes the study of how drugs affect the human body and attempts to describe a drug’s
desirable or undesirable effects apart from the primary reason for giving the drug. Additionally, the proper
amounts of drugs to give and how to give them are important aspects of pharmacology. Laws are typically
established to monitor and regulate the use of drugs. Understanding how drugs work and how they affect
the body, coupled with the need for knowledge of the laws and responsibilities that healthcare providers
have regarding drug administration and with your ability to prepare and administer drugs appropriately,
will guide you when you are a medical assistant.
Before beginning each section of the project you should consider the scope of the project and what you
will need to do to accomplish the task. This project consists of three parts:
 Part I: Drug medication template and case study for each body system, to be completed according
to the schedule on the tracking calendar.
 Part II: Overall reflection on how the knowledge gained from completion of this project will impact
your practice as a medical assistant, to be written after all body systems have been addressed.
 Part III: Math Calculation Competency Test
Your grade will be based on the three components.
In addition to your textbook and medical dictionaries, use a minimum of two reliable reference sources
that can provide worthwhile information for you to use. Your grade will be impacted by the quality of
sources you choose to use for your project.
Remember to use the information literacy skills you gained in COMM 150 and refined throughout your
program of study to help you make judgments on the most appropriate sources to use. You may find the
Medline and Health Source Academic databases helpful, as well as the following websites: www.NIH.gov,
www.CDC.gov , and www.health.harvard.edu.
You will conference with me on each body system assignment to have the opportunity to ask any
questions you may have so that you can successfully complete the assignment.
Each assignment should follow the requirements of the Bryant & Stratton College APA Style Guide.
After you turn in each part of the project you will be asked, as part of a class discussion, to reflect on how
you approached the project and how the approach you used might be enhanced to inform how the next
similar project is approached.
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Bryant & Stratton Course Outcomes:
Upon completion of Part I of this project, students will be able to:
2. Understand drug sources, forms, schedules, and their dosages.
4. Demonstrate use of pharmacology resources (e.g. PDR).
5. Understand various drugs and their actions on the different body systems.
MAERB Core competencies:
Anatomy & Physiology I C:
11.
Identify the classifications of medications, including desired effects, side effects and
adverse reactions
12.
Describe the relationship between anatomy and physiology of all body systems and
medications used for treatment in each
Part I: Drug Medication Template and Case Study for Each Body System
Directions: Using the knowledge gained from in-class discussions and research (at least 2 sources per
body system), complete a separate in-depth analysis of medications for each body system discussed in
class. Explain the medication’s physiological action on the human body and safety implications. Each
response should be justified by research, synthesizing information gathered from reading and class
discussion and appropriate medical and pharmacological sources. To receive full credit, you must follow
the guidelines presented. See the attached rubric for specific requirements and follow these steps:
 Complete the template bellow for the indicated body system*.
Urinary System
Musculoskeletal System
Special Senses: Ophthalmology, Otolaryngology
Respiratory System
Cardiovascular System
Gastrointestinal System
Nervous System
Integumentary System
Endocrine System
Lymphatic System
*REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
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Name: Ysmenio Fermin
Body System: REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
For each box below choose a different medical problem or disorder for the identified body system.
Common Medical Problem or Disorder (List and define 1, using a medical dictionary): A common
disorder in the Reproductive system is Pelvic inflammatory. Pelvic inflammatory is An
infection of the female reproductive organs.
Choose a class of medication that would treat the problem or disorder: Estrogen
Medication Classification: Estrogen
Source of drugs (animal, plant mineral, synthetic): Synthetic
Choose a specific drug within the above classification. Complete the following:
Brand Name: Estrace
Generic Name: estradiol
Form of Administration: Tablet
Route of Administration: Oral route
Uses and Actions: uses include preventation of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women, and
replacement of estrogen in women with ovarian failure.
Side Effects and Adverse Reactions (list 5 other than n/v/d): Vaginal bleeding pattern changes,
vaginitis, breast tenderness, galactorrhea, melasma
Interactions: may decrease levels, which may decrease therapeutic effects and/or change
uterine bleeding profile. Patients concomitantly receiving thyroid replacement therapy and
estrogens may require increased doses of thyroid replacement therapy.
Common Medical Problem or Disorder (List and define 1, using a medical dictionary): A common
disorder in the Reproductive system is menopause. Menopause is A natural decline in
reproductive hormones when a woman reaches her 40s or 50s.
Choose a class of medication that would treat the problem or disorder: Estrogen
Medication Classification: Estrogen
Source of drugs (animal, plant mineral, synthetic): Synthetic
Choose a specific drug within the above classification. Complete the following:
Brand Name: Premarin
Generic Name: conjugated estrogens, usp
Form of Administration: Tablet
Route of Administration: Oral route
Uses and Actions: It is used by women to help reduce symptoms of menopause (such as hot
flashes, vaginal dryness). It works by replacing natural estrogens in women who no longer
produce enough estrogen.
Side Effects and Adverse Reactions (list 5 other than n/v/d): Abdominal pain, asthenia, back pain,
headache, pain, depression,
Interactions: CYP3A4 inducers may decrease levels, which may decrease therapeutic effects
and/or change uterine bleeding profile. Women concomitantly receiving thyroid hormone
replacement therapy may require increased doses of their thyroid replacement therapy.
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Common Medical Problem or Disorder (List and define 1, using a medical dictionary): A common
disorder in the Reproductive system is endometriosis. Endometriosis is A disorder in which
tissue that normally lines the uterus grows outside the uterus.
Choose a class of medication that would treat the problem or disorder: Progestogen
Medication Classification: Progestogen
Source of drugs (animal, plant mineral, synthetic): Synthetic
Choose a specific drug within the above classification. Complete the following:
Brand Name: Provera
Generic Name: medroxyprogesterone acetate
Form of Administration: Tablet
Route of Administration: Oral route
Uses and Actions: used to treat conditions such as absent or irregular menstrual period, or
abnormal uterine bleeding.
Side Effects and Adverse Reactions (list 5 other than n/v/d): Abnormal uterine bleeding, breast
tenderness, galactorrhea, urticaria, pruritus, edema, rash,
Interactions: Women on thyroid replacement therapy may require higher doses of thyroid
hormone.
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Common Medical Problem or Disorder (List and define 1, using a medical dictionary): A common
disorder in the Reproductive system is Erectile Dysfunction. Erectile Dysfunction is the failure
to achieve or maintain an erection.
Choose a class of medication that would treat the problem or disorder: Phosphodiesterase 5
(PDE5) inhibitor
Medication Classification: Phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitor
Source of drugs (animal, plant mineral, synthetic): Synthetic
Choose a specific drug within the above classification. Complete the following:
Brand Name: Viagra
Generic Name: sildenafil citrate
Form of Administration: Tablet
Route of Administration: Oral route
Uses and Actions: used to treat male erectile dysfunction (impotence) and pulmonary arterial
hypertension (PAH). It works by increasing blood flow to the penis.
Side Effects and Adverse Reactions (list 5 other than n/v/d): Headache, flushing, dyspepsia,
abnormal vision, nasal congestion.
Interactions: potential additive BP-lowering effects w/ α-blockers and other antihypertensives.
Increased levels w/ CYP3A4 inhibitors.
Common Medical Problem or Disorder (List and define 1, using a medical dictionary): A common
disorder in the Reproductive system is Erectile Dysfunction. Erectile Dysfunction is the failure
to achieve or maintain an erection.
Choose a class of medication that would treat the problem or disorder: Androgen
Medication Classification: Androgen
Source of drugs (animal, plant mineral, synthetic): Synthetic
Choose a specific drug within the above classification. Complete the following:
Brand Name: AndroGel
Generic Name: testosterone
Form of Administration: Gel
Route of Administration: Topical route
Uses and Actions: use Replacement therapy in adult males for conditions associated w/ a
deficiency or absence of endogenous testosterone (congenital/acquired primary hypogonadism
or hypogonadotropic hypogonadism). Androgen; responsible for normal growth and
development of male sex organs and for maintenance of secondary sex characteristics.
Side Effects and Adverse Reactions (list 5 other than n/v/d): abnormal lab tests, headache,
emotional lability, gynecomastia, nervousness.
Interactions: Changes in insulin sensitivity or glycemic control may occur; may decrease blood
glucose and, therefore, may decrease insulin requirements in diabetic patients. Caution in
patients w/ cardiac, renal, or hepatic disease.
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CASE STUDY: REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
A 13 year old female presents with her mom to the pediatrician’s office for her yearly physical exam.
Following the office protocol, the patient and her mom are given a brochure on the prevention of
genital warts and the recommendation for a vaccine. The mom seems quite offended and upset that
she was given this information. When you ask her if something’s wrong, she states firmly that her
daughter is not sexually active and won’t be for a very long time and she sees no reason for her to get
this vaccine. Vitals: BP 110/60, P 72, R 12, T 97.8°F.
1. Name the vaccine that prevents genital warts.
The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine can help prevent genitals warts.
2. Based on your knowledge from classroom work and/or research, what microorganism causes genital
warts? Genital warts is cause by a poor body immune system. Another cause could be a poor diet.
3. What is the most important reason to be vaccinated against genital warts? The most important
reason to get vaccinated against genital warts is because if you don’t treat it right away it
could lead to cervical cancer in women.
4. The MD asks you to discuss the situation regarding the vaccine with the mom before he comes into
the room. What would you say to educate her about this disorder and the vaccine that is designed to
prevent it? Something that you could say to educate the mom is that this disorder is something
serious that you should take the vaccine even If you are not sexually active because there’s other
ways you could catch it.
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Your conference date is scheduled for__________________.
The due date for this portion of the overall project is ___________________.
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