Active Outline

General Information

Course ID (CB01A and CB01B)
NURS D091P
Course Title (CB02)
Pharmacology I
Course Credit Status
Credit - Degree Applicable
Effective Term
Fall 2024
Course Description
This is an introductory course that focuses on the basic pharmacological principles and application of pharmacologic principles to chronically ill adult patients. Concepts of pathophysiology will serve as a basis for building an understanding of pharmacokinetics. Legal and ethical issues and safety principles will be stressed as an integral part of nursing practice. The nurses' scope of practice, critical thinking, and problem-solving in medication administration processes will be examined.
Faculty Requirements
Discipline 1
[Nursing]
FSA
[FHDA FSA - BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES]
Course Family
Not Applicable

Course Justification

This is a course in a CTE program that was developed based on requirements from the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN), and input from current/potential healthcare employers and current/future health needs of society. This course belongs on the AS degree in Nursing. Students apply pharmacology concepts to the geriatric populations, their specialized needs, and care management. This course incorporates theory and practice concepts that meet the BRN's requirement for pharmacology in the nursing curriculum.

Foothill Equivalency

Does the course have a Foothill equivalent?
No
Foothill Course ID

Course Philosophy

Formerly Statement

Formerly Statement
(Formerly NURS D081P.)

Course Development Options

Basic Skill Status (CB08)
Course is not a basic skills course.
Grade Options
  • Letter Grade
  • Pass/No Pass
Repeat Limit
0

Transferability & Gen. Ed. Options

Transferability
Transferable to CSU only

Units and Hours

Summary

Minimum Credit Units
1.5
Maximum Credit Units
1.5

Weekly Student Hours

TypeIn ClassOut of Class
Lecture Hours1.53.0
Laboratory Hours0.00.0

Course Student Hours

Course Duration (Weeks)
12.0
Hours per unit divisor
36.0
Course In-Class (Contact) Hours
Lecture
18.0
Laboratory
0.0
Total
18.0
Course Out-of-Class Hours
Lecture
36.0
Laboratory
0.0
NA
0.0
Total
36.0

Prerequisite(s)

Corequisite(s)

Advisory(ies)

Limitation(s) on Enrollment

(Admission into the °®¶¹´«Ã½ College Nursing Program.)

Entrance Skill(s)

General Course Statement(s)

Methods of Instruction

Lecture and visual aids

Discussion of assigned readings

Assignments

  1. Reading assignments from textbooks and syllabus
  2. Quizzes, exams, and calculation tests

Methods of Evaluation

  1. Quizzes to evaluate comprehension and mastery of key concepts.
  2. Three take home medication calculation exams evaluated per scoring rubric.
  3. Midterm (multiple choice and/or essay) to evaluate comprehension and application of pharmacology concepts to patient situations.
  4. Comprehensive final (multiple choice and/or essay) to evaluate comprehension and application of pharmacology concepts to patient situations.

Essential Student Materials/Essential College Facilities

Essential Student Materials: 
  • None
Essential College Facilities:
  • None

Examples of Primary Texts and References

AuthorTitlePublisherDate/EditionISBN
Morris, Deborah"Calculate with Confidence"Elsevier8th
J. R. Burchum & L.D. RosenthalLehne's pharmacology for nursing careElsevier11th

Examples of Supporting Texts and References

None.

Learning Outcomes and Objectives

Course Objectives

  • Evaluate disease, patient problems, needs and trends of data necessary for pharmacological management of the chronically ill adult patient.
  • Use information and technology to communicate, manage knowledge, mitigate error, and support decision-making in relation to medication management of the chronically ill adult patient.
  • Describe the role of the registered nurse in influencing the behavior of individuals or groups of individuals, including chronically ill patients receiving medication, within their environment in a way that facilitates the establishment and acquisition of shared goals.
  • Examine the identification, evaluation and integration of the best current evidence with clinical expertise and consideration of patient preferences, experience, and values in making practice decisions within the context of administering medication to chronically ill adults.
  • Examine accountability for and approaches to patient/ family centered care that is consistent with moral,altruistic, legal, ethical, regulatory and humanistic principles within the context of administering medication to chronically ill adults.

CSLOs

  • Use the nursing process to identify interventions for safe medication management.

  • Identify physiological processes affecting the efficacy of medications.

Outline

  1. Evaluate disease, patient problems, needs and trends of data necessary for pharmacological management of the chronically ill adult patient.
    1. Describe pathophysiologic processes that necessitate the use of medications and how medications affect body systems.
    2. Identify how cultural, ethnic, and social background influence patient compliance with medication regimen.
    3. Describe physical and psychological factors that interfere with medication administration in the chronically ill patient.
    4. Discuss specific steps of medication administration.
    5. Identify potential side effects/ complications for medication classes.
    6. Discuss therapeutic effects of medications in the chronically ill patient.
  2. Use information and technology to communicate, manage knowledge, mitigate error, and support decision-making in relation to medication management of the chronically ill adult patient.
    1. Discuss the role of the nurse in medication administration.
    2. Identify sources of information for accurate and safe medication administration.
    3. Utilize technology as a source of information for safe medication administration.
  3. Describe the role of the registered nurse in influencing the behavior of individuals or groups of individuals, including chronically ill patients receiving medication, within their environment in a way that facilitates the establishment and acquisition of shared goals.
    1. Develop awareness of scope of practice by the Nursing Practice Act in relation to administration and delegation during mediation administration.
    2. Examine accountability in every step of the medication administration process.
    3. Discuss the legal-ethical implications of medication therapy.
  4. Examine the identification, evaluation and integration of the best current evidence with clinical expertise and consideration of patient preferences, experience, and values in making practice decisions within the context of administering medication to chronically ill adults.
    1. Utilize reliable sources of evidence, reports and clinical practice guidelines related to medication administration.
    2. Identify the role of evidence-based practice during administration of medication.
  5. Examine accountability for and approaches to patient/ family centered care that is consistent with moral,altruistic, legal, ethical, regulatory and humanistic principles within the context of administering medication to chronically ill adults.
    1. Identify information provided by the Nursing Practice Act as it relates to medication administration.
    2. Discuss the concept of patient's rights in relation to medication administration.
    3. Discuss the role of the nurse in patient education regarding medications, side effects and receptor interactions.
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