WELCOME TO PHARMACOLOGY III
NURS 2031
Summer 2013
Instructors: Carla Jacobs, MSN, RN
cjacobs@northark.edu
TBA
Course Description
Pharmacology III is a 1-credit course designed to give nursing students a thorough and
practical understanding of pharmacology for nursing practice. Emphasis is placed on
therapeutic drug actions, drug-interactions, usual dosage, routes of administration and
nursing responsibilities in administration of medications. Pharmacology III, along with
Pharmacology I and II, is required of nursing students. A grade of C or better is
necessary to pass.
Required Textbooks
Kee, J., Hayes, Hayes, E. , and McCuistion, L. (2012) Pharmacology: A nursing process
approach. 7th ed. Philadelphia: Elsevier Science
ATI Reference – RN Pharmacology for Nursing
Course Requirements
This course is a blended course meaning that information will be delivered in the
classroom and on-line using Portal. Students are required to read specified chapters for
each module. Some of the chapters require completing on-line assignments such as
quizzes. Each student is expected to participate in the discussion according to the course
schedule. Tests are either pencil-paper format or electronic. Quizzes may also be used
either in class or on-line.
Messages posted in the discussion forums are to be concise and relevant to lesson
materials. Correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation are also important parts of the
discussion assignments. Completion of all assignments is a course requirement. It is
important to read the assigned material first, then submit and respond to discussion topics
related to the chapter content. Students are expected to check Portal weekly for updates
and handouts. Allow at least an hour of time each week to spend on-line with the
discussion topics in addition to the time needed to read the assignments and do the
homework assignments.
Drop Policy – According to North Arkansas College Policy, the instructor for the course
will not drop you for a failing grade or lack of attendance. You are responsible to drop
yourself from all coursework.
Grading standards and examination policies for this course are found in the North
Arkansas College Registered Nursing Program Handbook. Please refer to this handbook.
You must be passing this course with a 79% or higher on tests before the Assignment
grade is weighted.
Grading Scale:
91 – 100
84 – 90
79 – 83
70 – 78
<70
A
B
C
D
F
The course grade is determined as follows:
Assignments (this includes quizzes)
Tests
Final Exam
20%
60%
20%
GUIDELINES FOR ON-LINE LEARNING PARTICIPATION
Computer-based skills are required in order to succeed in this course as well as for
continued learning and development as a registered nurse.
All students must have access to and the ability to use the following hardware and
software:



 Software: Microsoft Office, Windows 97/2000 Professional, Internet
Access, Netscape or Microsoft Explorer Browser Utility

 Website: Materials related to this course are accessed on the course
web page, located at: http://www.northark.net
Hardware: Pentium II (or better) computer with Intel processor.
o o For quick access later, place this site in "bookmark" or "favorites"
once you have opened it.

 Discussion Group: To access the discussion group for Pharmacology
click on "Communication Tools" on the course home page and click on
Discussions.

 E-mail: All students must have an e-mail account and access to the
Internet. E-mail addresses of all the students in the course will be made
available as soon as possible. Email addresses of faculty are listed on the
first page of the syllabus.

 Submitting Assignments: Specific directions are listed in the syllabus
for the course. Additional help for students is available through the
instructors in the Northark Learning Assistance Center, Library, and the
Nursing Lab.
"NETIQUETTE": Internet etiquette assists learners to maintain the higher
education standards of adult learning. Adult learning principles can be
summarized in the phrase, "the student is the architect of his or her own
knowledge". For the details about multi-media distance learning
techniques based on adult learning, click on the following URL:
http://www.fau.edu/netiquette/net/
Course Modules
Module One
Chapter 18 Adrenergics and Adrenergic Blockers
Chapter 19 Cholinergics and Anticholinergics
Module Two
Chapter 23 Parkinsonism and Alzheimer’s Disease Medications
Chapter 24 Drugs for Neuromuscular Disorders: Myasthenia
Gravis, Multiple Sclerosis, and Muscle Spasms
Module Three
Chapter 40 Drugs for Upper Respiratory Disorders
Chapter 41 Drugs for Lower Respiratory Disorders
Module Four
Chapter 42 Cardiac Glycosides, Antianginals, and
Antidysrthythmics
Chapter 44 Antihypertensives
Chapter 45 Anticoagulants, Antiplatelets and Thrombolytics
Chapter 46 Antilipidemics and Peripheral Vasodilators
Pharmacology III
COURSE CALENDAR
(underlined and highlighted dates indicate in-class
components) other dates are on-line components
May 23
Class orientation
Start Module One
Also read page 254-256 in text
Hand out take home test #1 (due May 30)
May 30
Take Home Test #1 Due at the beginning of class
Start Module Two information in class
Check Portal for information and quiz #1
June 5
On line Quiz #1 due by midnight
June 6
Test #2 over Module Two
Start reading Module Three chapters
Watch Lecture Capture for Module Three
June 12
Take on-line quiz #2 by midnight
June 13
Test #3 in class over Module Three
Start reading Module Four chapters
June 20
Chapter 44 Antihypertensives in class
June 27
Chapter 42 Cardiac Glycosides, Antianginals, and Antidysrhythmics in
class
July 3
Take on-line quiz #3 chapters 44 and 42 by midnight
July 4
Chapter 46 Antilipidemics and Peripheral Vasodilators (lecture capture)
July11
In-class Chapter 45 Anticoagulants, Antiplatelets, and Thrombolytics in
class
July 17
Take on-line quiz over chapters 45 and 46 by midnight
July 18
Test #4 Over Module Four
Hand out Take Home Final Exam (due next class meeting)
July 25
Take Home Final Due (comprehensive)
Course Learning Objectives:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:
All course objectives are measured by on-line discussion, written exams and assignments,
quizzes and clinical application.
Course Objectives:
Upon successful completion of this course students will be able to:
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
Discuss drug administration as component of
safe effective nursing care, utilizing the nursing
process. (Measured by exam and
simulation/clinical application)
Describe the roles and responsibilities of the
registered nurse regarding drug administration.
(Measured by exam, clinical practice application
and discussion)
Explain and demonstrate the 5 rights of
medication administration in both classroom
assessment and clinical practice (Measured by
exam and clinical/lab application)
Apply critical reasoning/thinking in simulated
situations concerning administration of
medications to various populations (Measured
by exam, case studies and discussion)
Plan nursing interventions necessary to the
administration of medications and the teaching
strategies necessary to gain client compliance.
(Measured by exam, case study)
Explain the pharmacologic classification of drugs,
their mechanism of action, common side effects;
potential for adverse reactions, contraindications
and other nursing considerations. (Measured by
exam and classroom discussion)
Recognize cultural considerations relating to
compliance and administration of medications.
(Measured by exam and classroom discussion,
case study)
Correlating Student Learning
Outcomes
#3 Professional Identity
#2 Nursing Judgment
#3 Professional Identity
#2 Nursing Judgment
#3 Professional Identity
#2 Nursing Judgment
#1 Human Flourishing
#2 Nursing Judgment
#4 Spirit of Inquiry
#3 Professional Identity
#1 Human Flourishing
#3 Professional Identity
#2 Nursing Judgment
#3 Professional Identity
#1 Human Flourishing
#2 Nursing Judgment
#4 Spirit of Inquiry
Selected Drug Websites:
Many good (and bad) websites have drug information. Check Portal also for website
links. Feel free to check out the following selected sources:
CDER: Center for Drug Evaluation and Research http://www.fda.gov/cder/
Safety information on drugs and other medical products regulated by the U.S.
FDA.
RxList - The Internet Drug Index
http://www.rxlist.com
MedlinePLUS
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginformation.html
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
http://nccam.nih.gov/
North Arkansas College
Syllabus Acknowledgement
Course: NURS 2031 Pharmacology III
Semester: Summer 2013
I acknowledge by signing below that I have received the syllabus for the course indicated
above. I have reviewed the syllabus and understand the objectives of this course. Further,
I understand how my performance will be evaluated and how my final grade will be
determined. I am aware of my instructor’s attendance policy and office hours, and I know
how to contact the instructor for help with and/or clarification of course contents or
procedures.
Student Signature ______________________________________ Date
__________________________