Nursing 368

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 Radford University School of Nursing’s philosophy and conceptual framework. This course facilitates achievement of the Radford University 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. Apply 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:

• Exams, Quizzes, Case studies, Papers
• Project(s), Individual or Group
• Care Planning, Concept Mapping
• Oral Presentations, Class Participation

Review and Approval

March, 2011    Kimberly Carter, Director

October, 2018

March 2021, Iris Mullins, Director