NURS-152: Foundations of Pharmacology in Nursing I

Nursing and Allied Health > Nursing

General Information

• Name: Foundations of Pharmacology in Nursing I
• Division: Nursing and Allied Health
• Discipline: Nursing
• Units (Credits): 1.00

I. Catalog Course Description

Prerequisites: admission to the nursing program.
Provides students with an overview of pharmacology with an emphasis on clinical applications within the context of the nursing process and prioritization of needs; with special consideration given to the physiological and psycho/social needs of patients. Explores indications, modes of action, effects, contraindications and interactions for selected drugs. Specific nursing responsibilities related to drug administration are emphasized.

II: Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of the course the student will be able to:

• Define terms, concepts, and basic processes associated with physiologic effects of medication therapy.
• Detail basic physiologic processes involved with absorption and elimination of medications.
• Describe characteristics of major groups and selected individual medications in terms of the following: mechanism(s) of action; drug effects; therapeutic uses; side effects and adverse effects; toxicity and management of overdoses; interactions; and nursing responsibilities related to administration, monitoring, and teaching.
• Utilize available resources to update personal knowledge of medications.
• Utilize appropriate conversions to practice drug dosage calculations.
• Describe legal/regulatory issues related to medication administration.
• Examine current literature on a pharmacological topic of interest and demonstrate college level writing skills and APA format in a one-page paper.
• Describe the nursing role in drug therapy as it relates to:
• Evaluate influences of medications on body systems using the nursing process and Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs.

III: Course Linkage

The purpose of the Associate of Applied Science degree is to provide employment-related knowledge and the skills necessary to succeed in a chosen field of study.

The mission of the nursing program at Western Nevada College is to meet the nursing educational needs of the service area. The program prepares qualified students to function as entry-level registered nurses and transfer to higher degree programs.

Graduates are prepared to function in a variety of health care settings, providing culturally sensitive, holistic nursing care to individuals and families across the lifespan. The nursing faculty supports graduate competency in an evolving and complex health care environment by facilitating the students’ development of clinical judgement, promoting professional behaviors, and fostering the value of lifelong learning.

The Nursing Program Educational Objectives ensure that students who successfully complete the Nursing Program are expected to demonstrate that they can:

• Utilize the nursing process in a competent and caring manner to safely meet the bio/psycho/social/cultural and spiritual needs of patients across the lifespan in a variety of health care settings.
• Integrate knowledge derived from the bio/psycho/social sciences, humanities, and nursing to achieve deliberative and competent decision-making that is grounded in evidence based practice to achieve best practice outcomes.
• Apply concepts of cultural awareness, cultural sensitivity and respect for persons when working with diverse populations.
• Provide care that reflects the ethical values of nursing within the professional practice standards as well as the legal parameters of the profession
• Use therapeutic communication skills when interacting with patients and their families

Additionally, the General Education Student Learning Objectives ensure that students who complete programs in occupational areas are expected to demonstrate that they:

• Have college-level skills in reading, writing, and oral communication appropriate to their degree and/or emphasis
• Posses suitable technological skills, including computer skills
• Know the subject matter of their degree to a level that is acceptable to their area of study
• Are able to acquire the skills and perform the tasks necessary for their employment or career enhancement
• Have adequate college level mathematical skills

Scheduled NURS-152 classes: