NU 2810 - Pharmacology I

• Identify the major categories of drug reactions and describe the nurse’s role in preventing, detecting, responding to, and reporting adverse drug reactions (Level 1, Nursing Care)
• Use knowledge of the basic principles of pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics to explain the concepts of drug mechanism of action; onset, peak, and duration of action; adverse effects profile; and potential for drug-to-drug, drug-to-food, and drug-to-disease interactions (Level 1, Nursing Care)
• Use knowledge of the physiologic changes that occur during human development to explain how age and developmental status influence drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (Level 1, Nursing Care)
• Identify mechanisms of action, therapeutic indications, and expected responses to drugs that affect the immune, autonomic nervous, cardiovascular, hematopoietic, and coagulation systems, fluid and electrolyte balances, and drugs to treat cancer (Level 1, Nursing Care)
• Use core drug knowledge and critical thinking in conjunction with the nursing process to describe safe administration of medications and methods to evaluate effectiveness of drug therapy (Level 2, Critical Thinking)
• Use effective communication skills and knowledge of adverse effects profile to monitor drug safety and educate clients about drugs that affect the immune, autonomic nervous, cardiovascular, hematopoietic, and coagulation systems, fluid and electrolyte balances, and drugs to treat cancer (Level 2, Communication)
• Discuss methods to promote open communication between clients and health care providers about alternative therapies, sources of accurate information, and controversy surrounding use (Level 2, Communication)
• Accept personal responsibility and participate in own development toward the role of the professional nurse through acts of integrity, mutual respect, and actively seeking out opportunities to learn (Level 2, Professional Role)
• Acknowledge the importance of accessing current and reliable sources to maintain and update one’s knowledge of drugs over the course of a nursing career (Level 2, Evidence-Based Practice)

• None 

• Drug development, regulation, and safety issues
• Pharmacology and the Nursing process
• Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics
• Adverse drug Reactions
• Food and Drug Interactions
• Immunizations, immunosuppressants & glucocorticoid drugs
• Anti-inflammatory drugs
• Anti-histamines drugs
• Drug therapy across the lifespan
• Alternative therapies
• Adrenergic agonist and blocker drugs
• Cholinergic agonist and blocker drugs
• Cholinesterase Inhibitor drugs
• Short and long acting Paralytic drugs
• Drugs affecting fluid & electrolyte balance
• Drug to treat hypertension
• Vasodilators
• Drugs for congestive heart failure, angina pectoris, and myocardial infarction
• Drugs for dyslipidemias
• Anti-coagulants
• Drugs for anemias & hematopoietic drugs
• Cancer chemotherapy