Mar 28, 2024  
2021-2022 Undergraduate Academic Catalog 
    
2021-2022 Undergraduate Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

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NU 2810 - Pharmacology I

3 lecture hours 0 lab hours 3 credits
Course Description
This course introduces students to the effects of drugs on physiologic systems. Students learn about specific drug mechanisms of action, administration issues, required safety monitoring, potential adverse effects, drug interactions, and evaluation for achievement of therapeutic effectiveness and drug-related patient education needs. Drugs affecting the autonomic nervous system, immune system, cardiovascular system, hematopoietic systems, coagulation pathways, fluid and electrolyte balance, cancer treatment, and alternative therapies are discussed. (prereq: NU students: BI 1010  (C grade), BI 1020  (C grade), BI 1030  (C grade), BI 2040  (C grade),MA 125  or MA 1204 ); BME students: BI 2305 , BI 2315 ) (coreq: NU 290 )
Course Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  • 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)

Prerequisites by Topic
  • Anatomy and Physiology 1, 2, 3, and 4
  • College Algebra 1 or Quantitative Reasoning

Course Topics
  • 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

Coordinator
Catherine Leffler



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