I. Course Title: Pharmacology
II. Course Number: NURS 368
III. Credit Hours: 3 credits
IV. Prerequisites: Admission to the Nursing program; junior level standing
Corequisites: NURS 340, NURS 342, NURS 343, NURS 352
V. Course Description:
Emphasis is placed on knowledge and understanding of the relationship of drugs and
their effects on humans with complex health problems
VI. Detailed Description of Content of the Course:
This course introduces nursing pharmacology that integrates the concepts of physiology,
pathophysiology, chemistry, and nursing fundamentals to build a foundational knowledge
base needed for administering safe and effective drug therapy to patients. Using a
simple to complex approach, key content areas are presented to help conceptualize
the important components related to nursing pharmacology.
The basic concepts of pharmacology, such as drug testing and approval, pharmacokinetics
and pharmacodynamics, therapeutic and toxic effects, dosage calculations, and challenges
related to drug therapy will be introduced. This course aims to provide the foundation
from which drug therapy associated with specific body systems and select pathophysiologic
disease states can be addressed. Students will be introduced to the knowledge, skill,
and attitudes needed to enable them to recognize the patient or designee as a full
partner in the provision of safe, compassionate, and coordinated care based on scholarly
evidence as well as respect for patient's preferences, values, and needs.
Discussion of the major drug groups focuses on therapeutic actions and indications,
pharmacokinetics, contraindications and cautions, adverse effects, clinically important
drug-drug interactions and nursing considerations that emphasize the nursing process
and focus on patient care. As a learning aid, prototypes of major drug groups/classifications
are emphasized. Lifespan considerations, evidence for best practice, patient safety,
and critical thinking are integrated throughout the course. Active student participation
and personal accountability is mandatory.
VI. Detailed Description of Conduct of Course:
The following teaching strategies will be employed but not limited to: Lectures, discussions,
multimedia, web-based activities, exemplars, and case studies.
VII. Goals and Objectives of the Course:
The course objectives and topical content of this Level 1 nursing course are derived
from the 澳门老奇人论坛 School of Nursing鈥檚 philosophy and conceptual framework.
This course facilitates achievement of the 澳门老奇人论坛 School of Nursing program
objectives, the American Association of Colleges of nursing (AACN) Essentials of Baccalaureate
Nursing Education, and the Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) behavioral
competencies. Additionally, course content represents areas covered on standardized
achievement examinations and the NCLEX-RN Test Plan. Current research, advanced nursing
theory, and evidence based clinical practice recommendation aid in content development
and course design.
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
1. Discuss foundational pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, incorporating learned
knowledge from social, behavioral, and applied sciences.
2. Explain the healthcare policies, regulations and pharmaceutical expenses, when
evaluating and planning patient medication management.
3. Outline a simple to complex approach to primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention
to help conceptualize important components related to nursing pharmacology.
4. Consider legal regulations of the process of drug development, approval and testing.
5. Evaluate the challenges associated with drug therapy in current times considering
evidence for best practice, patient safety, and critical thinking
6. Calculate accurate drug dosages for adults.
7. Correlate the physiologic and psychologic actions of the select major drug groups
on each body system(s) in acute and chronically ill adults.
8. Discuss the important lifespan considerations associated with major drug groups
and classifications.
9. 澳门老奇人论坛 theoretical knowledge basic to the nursing process in discussion the mechanism
of action, indications, contraindications and cautions, common adverse effects, and
clinically important drug-drug interactions for each of the select major drug groups.
10.Relate the importance of renal and hepatic function to therapeutic drug therapy.
11.Describe relevant nursing considerations and important teaching points related
medication administration, provision and coordination of safe, compassionate, and
interdisciplinary care
12.based on scholarly evidence as well as respect for patient's preferences, values,
and needs.
VIII. Assessment Measures:
May include but are not limited to:
鈥� Exams, Quizzes, Case studies, Papers
鈥� Project(s), Individual or Group
鈥� Care Planning, Concept Mapping
鈥� Oral Presentations, Class Participation
Review and Approval
March, 2011 Kimberly Carter, Director
October, 2018
March 2021, Iris Mullins, Director