NSG 23 - Pharmacology Nursing

Transfer Status

CSU

Prerequisite

Admission to Vocational Nursing Program

Corequisite

NSG 18, NSG 21, NSG 22, NSG 24, NSG 28

Unit(s)

3.00

• Lecture: 51.00 Contact hours/102.00 Out of class hours/153.00 Total hours/3.00 Unit(s)
• Total: 51.00 Contact hours/102.00 Out of class hours/153.00 Total hours/3.00 Unit(s)

Course Description: This course covers basic applied pharmacology and major drug groups. Students will learn computation of drug dosages and safe and correct administration of medications. Emphasis will be placed on drug action, pharmacokinetics, adverse drug effects, side effects of drug therapy and nursing process related to drug groups. The course will be closely correlated to concurrent medical-surgical theory and clinical experiences. Graded only.

Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to:

1. Identify the six rights of drug administration.
2. Correctly interpret and calculate drug dosages.
3. Discuss advantages and disadvantages of various routes of drug administration.
4. Identify the sources of drug information and common terminology.
5. Develop an awareness of legal, personal and professional responsibilities associated with providing medication to individuals.
6. Apply the nursing process to adults receiving drug therapy.
7. Identify the pharmacokinetics (absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion) of each drug group.
8. State the pharmacodynamics (action) of each class of drugs on the body.
9. Describe the therapeutic uses of each of the common drug classifications.
10. Describe adverse reactions and interactions of each drug group.
11. Identify the key side effects of each drug class.
12. Identify pertinent patient/family education related to drug therapy.
13. Discuss principles of accurate drug administration for parenteral and non-parenteral medications.

Topic Titles / Suggested Time Topic

Lecture

1. Class Activities
2. Discussion
3. Homework: Students are required to complete two hours of outside-of-class homework for each hour of lecture
4. Lecture
5. Reading Assignments

1. In Class Assignments, Papers/Reports, Written Tests, Class Presentations

Reading Assignments

1. Read chapter one in the pharmacology text on drug sources, nomenclature, laws and standards. Answer instructor generated objectives. Come to class prepared to discuss these objectives.
2. Review chapter 6 in Medical Dosage Calculations text related to calculation of oral medication dosages. Answer instructor generated objectives. Come to class prepared to practice dosage calculations.

Writing Assignments

1. Utilize assigned readings to analyze the problem of medication errors in the hospital environment. Write a 2 page paper addressing methods to prevent medication administration errors.
2. Review a vignette of a patient with specified medications. Prepare a teaching plan related to the medications ordered for this patient.

Out-of-Class Assignments

1. Complete the dosage calculation homework sets assigned from "additional exercises" at the end of each chapter in Olsen's Medical Dosage Calculation text.
2. Complete the homework on cardiovascular medications. Describe the therapeutic classification, mode of action, indications, and assessment prior to administration for each assigned drug.

Abrams, A. C. (2014). Clinical Drug Therapy: Rationales for Nursing practice. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 10th.

Deglin, J. H., & Vallerand, A. H. (2016). Davis's Drug Guide. Philadelphia: F. A. Davis, 15th.

Olsen, J.L., Giangrasso, A.P., & Shrimptom, D. (2016). Medical Dosage Calculations. Pearson Prentice Hall, 11th.

Licensed Vocational Nursing

Nursing (Masters Required)