Class Syllabus
Porterville College: Pharmacology for the Developmentally Disabled– PSYT P020D
Spring 2014
CRN: 30338
Units: 1.5
Instructor: Elizabeth Keele, RN, B.S.N.
Office: 2004 HC
Office phone: 559-791-2493
Home Phone: 559-793-1664
Cell Phone: 559-310-4974
e-mail: elizabethkeele@sbcglobal.net
Hours/ Days:
Thursday & Friday: 8:30 AM – 2:20 PM (HC – 2061)
March 28 –April 11, 2014
Final Exam: April 17, 2014 (8:30 – 10:00 AM)
Course Description:
This module involves the study of medications commonly prescribed for developmentally disabled and
mentally ill clients. The focus is on the study of pharmacokinetics, medications and their classifications
and addresses; name recognition; mechanisms of action; indications and dosages; adverse reactions;
drug interactions and nursing interventions.
Concepts and practices pertinent to the Psychiatric Technician’s role and responsibilities in Medication
Administration will also be addressed.
Grading:
93 – 100% = A
84 – 92% = B
75 – 83% = C
< 75% = F
Criteria:
Quizzes (4 x 30 points)
Participation (iClicker) (5 X 5 points)
Homework assignments
Pop Quiz
Final Exam:
Total:
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120*points
25 points
50 points
?* points
100 points__
245* points
* Point values are approximates
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Office Hours:
Thursday & Friday 11:45 – 12:45 PM & 2:20 – 3:00 PM
Wednesday 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM
By appointment 2004 HC Phone: 559-791-2493
You may e-mail me at elizabethkeele@sbcglobal.net (if I do not reply within 24 hours, please call me)
I am also available by phone at 559-793-1664 -Please do not call after 10:00 PM or on Sundays
Web Site:
http://home.portervillecollege.edu/ekeele/ or go to go to www.portervillecollege.edu and go to the
instructors web sites and click on Elizabeth Keele. You may obtain power point presentation, handouts
and class syllabus on-line.
Textbook / Supplies:
 Psychiatric Nursing 6th edition
 Davis’s Drug Guide 13th edition
 Taber’s Encyclopedia Medical Dictionary 21st edition
 iClicker
 Scan-tron form #882-ES (approximately 8)
Quizzes & Tests:
A quiz, test or work-sheet will be given on a daily bases. Please bring a scan-tron form #882-ES to all
quizzes and tests. Tests and quizzes are timed at 1 minute for each question. Quizzes and tests are
based on reading and lecture notes. The opportunity to make up one missed exam will only be allowed
if the student informs the instructor prior to the scheduled exam. Pop quizzes may not be made up.
Some quizzes will be administered using the iClicker, you must bring it to class daily. If you arrive late to
class during a test or failure to use a scan tron will result in a 10% drop in the test score.
Quizzes are based predominantly on the subject matter that was taught in the most resent previous
lecture, however they may include information from earlier lectures. The Final Exam is cumulative from
Day One.
Students will not be allowed to retake any exam or quiz on which an unsatisfactory grade was earned.
Students may make arrangement with the instructor to review an individual exam up to two (2) weeks
after the exam is returned. The final exam will not be reviewed in class.
All cell phones, pagers, and/or electronic device must be turned OFF during exams/quizzes unless prior
arrangements are made with the instructor. Electronic devices other than a calculator may not be used
for in-class calculations work (ie. Cell phones, PDA’s, etc). Looking at a cell phone and pulling a cell
phone out constitutes cheating and at which point your test and scan tron will be removed from you
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Participation:
Participation points will be given in this class based on your use of the iClicker during class discussions.
Participation points are awarded as an “all or nothing”; five points per class session. You may miss one
iClicker participation session (during one class day) and still get full credit for the day, but if you miss
more than one (a minimum of 90%), you will receive no participation points for the day.
If you are caught cheating using the iClicker – you will be penalized all participation points for the whole
course (25 Points). Cheating includes, but is not limited to “clicking” in for someone else when they are
not present.
General:
Students are expected to be on time and attend each scheduled class and assume responsibility for
assigned activities, be active in the learning process and meet all established level objectives. Students
are expected to call the instructor is they are unable to attend. If you are unable to attend class, you
must notify the instructor prior to class. Only excused absences will be given an opportunity to make up
quizzes/tests. Homework will not be accepted late unless excused by the instructor. Cell phones and
pagers must be turned off or placed in silent mode. Children are not allowed in classroom.
Reasonable Accommodation:
If you have a disability that may require assistance or accommodation, or you have questions related to
any accommodation for testing, note takers, readings, etc., please speak with the instructor as soon as
possible. Students may also contact the Disability Resource Center (559) 791-2215 with questions
about such services.
Instructor’s Intellectual Rights:
Individual instructors retain intellectual property rights to lectures and class presentations and related
material; notes or other class materials may not be exchanged or distributed for commercial purposes,
for compensation or for any other purpose other than study by the individual student enrolled in the
class. Unauthorized use of class notes or recordings is subject to the federal Copyright Act, California
Civil Code, and Program policy and may subject an individual to failure of the course and/or legal
proceedings brought by the instructor, as well as the Nursing Department. Examples of violation of this
policy include, but not limited to, audio recording, and any electronic posting such as YouTube, blogging,
podcasting, etc. Students may not tape record during any test preview or review
Honesty:
I require honesty on tests and assignments. Following Porterville College policy, if a student cheats on a
test or assignment, or plagiarizes, I will give an “F” grade on that assignment and I will report the
incident to the Dean. The student will have to meet with the Dean of Students to determine whether
further disciplinary action is necessary.
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Student Learning Objectives:
By the completion of this course the student should be able to:
1. Explain and demonstrate behaviors consistent with those of a successful student learner.
2. Describe and explain normal Nervous System functioning and abnormal functioning which can lead
to mental health disorders.
3. Describe and explain how medications are used to restore normal Nervous System functioning in
treatment of mental health and developmental disorders.
4. Describe and differentiate between the various medications treatments.
5. Describe and explain necessary nursing responsibilities for patients receiving medications under the
Psychiatric Technician’s care.
Course Objectives: The Board of Vocational Nurses and Psychiatric Technicians state
approved course content is as follows:
Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
Identify limitations/deficits commonly seen in D.D. clients that prevent them from asking
questions or reporting adverse effects regarding medications they receive.
Describe the dynamic process between the giver and the receiver of medications, which
promotes positive medication compliance.
Describe the importance of patient teaching with regard to prescribed medication regimen.
Describe the electrochemical processes of the central nervous system, which allow CNS drugs to
cause their desired effects.
Differentiate between the following neurotransmitters:
A.
Acetylcholine
B.
Norepinephrine
C.
Dopamine
D.
Serotonin
E.
Gamma-aminobutyric acid
F.
Glycine
Identify psychiatric disorders that appear to be related to the body’s inability to regulate the
availability of neurotransmitters.
Describe the ‘principle of opposition’ between the operation of the sympathetic and
parasympathetic branches of the autonomic nervous system.
Differentiate between an agonistic drug and an antagonistic drug.
Differentiate between afferent and efferent nerves.
Describe the role played by neurotransmitters in nerve impulse transmission within the synapse.
Describe the role played by monoamine oxidase in nerve impulse transmission within the
synapse.
Explain how chemicals and electrical impulses interact to make up the electrochemical
properties of the nervous system.
Describe the variable responses seen depending on the fit of drugs to receptor sites.
Identify medications commonly prescribed for D.D. clients by both generic and trade names.
Describe the following mechanisms of drug action:
A.
Altering existing cellular functions
B.
Altering cellular environment
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16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
Differentiate between commonly used drugs according to:
A.
Name
B.
Classification
C.
Mechanism of action
D.
Indications for use
E.
Contraindications
F.
Adverse drug effects
G.
Drug interactions
H.
Drug incompatibilities
Describe the following indications for use of drugs:
A.
Primary
B.
Adjunctive
C.
Non-labeled use
D.
Investigative use
Explain how absorption, distribution, biotransformation and excretion effect:
A.
The concentration of drug at body sites
B.
The concentration of drug metabolites at body sites
C.
The time for drug concentration to develop or change
Describe how the rate of absorption of a drug is affected by:
A.
Route of administration
i. Oral
ii. Sublingual
iii. Parenteral
iv. Subcutaneous
v. Intramuscular
vi. Intravenous
B.
Interfering factors
i. Stomach contents and acids
ii. Tissue problems at site of injection, topical, inhalant
Explain how distribution of a drug is effected by the blood-brain barrier.
Describe how biotransformation facilitates elimination of drug metabolites.
List the four body processes through which drugs or their metabolites are eliminated.
Explain how the following factors which influence individual pharmacological response:
A.
Age
B.
Gender
C.
Body weight
D.
Basal metabolic rate
E.
Disease states
F.
Genetic factors
G.
Time/route of administration
H.
Tolerance
I.
Nutrition
J.
Smoking
Calculate accurate medication dosages using dimensional analysis.
State the general uses, side-effects, contradictions, precautions, interactions, and nursing
considerations for representative drugs from the given classifications:
A.
Sedative/hypnotics
B.
Antiparkinsonian agents
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26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
C.
Antianxiety agents
D.
Antidepressants
E.
Antipsychotics
F.
Antimanics
G.
CNS stimulants
H.
Anticonvulsants
I.
Cardiac agents
J.
Hypothyroid agents
K.
Antibiotics
L.
Non-narcotic analgesics
M.
Skeletal muscle relaxant
Describe the relationship between the balance of acetylcholine and dopamine in the brain and
its connection to the symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease.
Differentiate between the various extrapyramidal side effects.
Explain why physicians must use extreme caution when prescribing antidepressant drugs to
outpatients who exhibit suicidal tendencies.
Delineate the safety precautions that should be instituted for patients suffering from orthostatic
hypotension.
State the reason clients receiving MAO inhibiting agents must comply with a diet restrictive of
tyramine-rich foods.
Describe the etiology, precautions, symptoms and treatment for Neuroleptic Maligant
Syndrome.
Discuss the potential problem of agranulocytosis in clients receiving antipsychotic agents.
Describe assessment approaches used when determining the presence of extrapyramidal side
effects in clients receiving antipsychotic agents.
Describe the importance of frequent drug serum level studies in clients receiving lithium
preparations.
Describe the dangers involved when clients abruptly withdraw from anticonvulsants drugs.
Explain the necessity of assessing a client’s apical pulse prior to administering digitalis
preparations and thyroid preparations.
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Register your iClicker: Do it before the 2nd day of class!
To register your iClicker:
 Go to http://www.iclicker.com and follow the instructions. OR
 Read and follow the instructions printed on the back of your iClicker.
 Use the same first and last name you used to register for classes at PC.
 Use your PC Student ID Number as your “Student ID.” Be sure to use the whole number
including the @ and all zeros. For example: @00654321. Do not abbreviate. Be sure to use all
numbers (do not use the letter O for zero).
 The “Remote ID” is a code number printed on the back of YOUR PERSONAL iClicker.
Course Outline, Schedule and Assignments:
Date
Day 1
March 28
Day 2
April 3
Day 3
April 4
Day 4
April 10
Day 5
April 11
Final Exam
April 17
Lecture Topics
Introduction
Course objective #1 - 13
Course objectives # 14 - 24
Tests / Quizzes/ Assignments
Course objectives #25 A-D; 26, 28-30
Course objective #25 E-H; 27, 31-35
Course objective #25 I – M; 36
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Quiz #1
Homework #1 Due by 8:30 AM
Quiz #2
Quiz #3
Homework #2 Due by 8:30 AM
Quiz #4
Homework #3 Due by 8:30 AM
Final Exam
8:30 AM – 10:00 AM
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