Pharmacology in Nursing I

Foundations in Pharmacology in Nursing I

Elaine Van Buren-Rizzo
State University of New York
Polytechnic Institute

Pharmacology in Nursing I

I.

COURSE: Foundations of Pharmacology in Nursing 1

CREDITS: One credit
DAY/TIME: Wednesday 2:30-4:30 PM

II.

FACULTY: Elaine Van Buren-Rizzo, MSN, RN, CCRN

Instructor
Office hours: Wednesdays 9AM-11AM & Fridays 2PM-4PM
Or by appointment.

III.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course allows the student to develop the skills needed to retrieve and interpret information
regarding medication treatments focusing on nursing responsibilities, critical thinking, patient
safety, and the assessment of both the desired and undesired effects of medications. Dose
calculations and order verification competencies are practiced and evaluated. Considerations for
special patient populations, ethical dilemmas, and various environments of care are explored.
Drug classifications, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics will be examined.

IV.

COURSE OBJECTIVES
The student will:
Describe major drug categories in relation to patient
populations across the lifespan.

ACEN 2013 Standards

& Blooms Taxonomy
4.1, 4.5
RemeberingCognitive Domain

Analyze medical records to correlate symptoms,

diseases, treatments, and patient outcomes as related to
medication administration.

4.9, 4.10, 4.12

AnalyzingCognitive Domain

Apply basic terms and concepts of pharmacology,

pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics to patient care
situations.
Safely prepare medications for administration

4.7
ApplyingCognitive Domain
4.9, 4.12
ManipulationPsychomotor Domain

Pharmacology in Nursing I

V.

LEARNER OUTCOMES

Learner Outcome

Course
Objective

Program Outcome

Identify major drug categories and their use

in the treatment of commonly occurring
diseases across the lifespan.

5.Collaborate with other

health care professionals to
develop and implement
teaching strategies to
promote wellness, prevent
illness, and restore health
to culturally
diverse clientele throughou
t their life.

Use critical thinking to evaluate effectiveness 1, 2, 3

of medication administration by assessment
of intended drug effects and unintended
consequences of treatment.

1.Utilize patient care

technologies and
information management
systems to advocate for
safe processes of care
across the health care
continuum.

Define terms related to pharmacology:

including but not limited to route, onset,
peak, indication, therapeutic range,
indications, adverse reactions, actions,
interactions, dosage, contraindications vs
cautions.

10.Plan and deliver high

quality, safe, culturally
competent patient centered
care by integrating the
nursing process, pertinent
nursing knowledge, and
principles of teaching and
learning to diverse
populations.

1, 3

Pharmacology in Nursing I

VI.

COURSE SCHEDULE

Fall
Semester
Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

Week 5

Content/Discussion/Activities

Week 6

Week 7

Week 8

Introduction to course via syllabus review

Review of drug classifications
Introduction to drug related terminology
Assignment of groups for Poster/Video Project
Drug forms (intravenous, suspension, tablet, capsule, etc.)
and dosage calculations with lecture and practice
Review of drug actions, interactions, and reactions
Quiz #1
Student Presentation of Anti-infectives
Teacher Presentation of Topical Medications
Manipulation of IV administration sets
Quiz #2
Student Presentation of Cardiovascular System
Medications
Teacher Presentation of Hematologic Medications
Manipulation of oral medications
Quiz #3
Student Presentation of Central Nervous System
Medications
Teacher Presentation of Autonomic Nervous System
Medications
Calculations of doses, strengths, and frequencies of
administration
Quiz#4
Student Presentation of Gastrointestinal Medications
Teacher Presentation of Hormonal Medications
Inspection of medical record for patient,
pharmacological, and disease information
Quiz #5
Student Presentation of Respiratory Tract Medications
Teacher Presentation of Opthalmic, Otic, and Nasal
Medications
Quiz #6

Assignments

Drug Category
Introduction
Poster/Video
Drug Category
Introduction
Poster/Video

Drug Category
Introduction
Poster/Video

Drug Category
Introduction
Poster/Video

Drug Category
Introduction
Poster/Video

Pharmacology in Nursing I

Fall
Semester
Week 9

Teacher Presentation of Antineoplastics and

Immunomodulators
Content/Discussion/Activities

Week 11

Week 12

Week 10

VII.

Quiz #7
Case study review techniques and practice scenarios
Manipulation and simulated medication administration
Role playing for patient and family medication education
Review of Safety, Ethics, and Professional
Responsibilities Related to Medication Administration
10 minute Reflection Paper
Final Exam

Assignments

Case Study
Review

INSTRUCTIONAL APPROACHES
Lecture/discussion, assigned readings
Small group project
Internet and literature searches
Clinical labs for demonstration and return demonstrations
Video, power point, role playing, and review of simulated medical record

VIII. GRADING SCALE

Letter Grade
A+
A
AB+
B
BC+

Numeric Grade
98-100
93-97
90-92
87-89
83-86
80-82
77-79

Pharmacology in Nursing I

IX.

METHODS OF EVALUATION

Assignment
Quiz: Brief 10 item assessments of
previous weeks learning

Grading Percentage
20%

Due Date
Week 3, 4, 5,
6, 7, 8, & 9

Other
Lowest grade
may be
dropped
Group Grade

Drug Category Introduction

20%
Poster/Video: Small group project to
introduce the class to a drug
category via poster advertisement or
video commercial-style presentation.
Presentation is to be 10 minutes in
length and utilize referenced sources
and professional vocabulary. Drug
indications and review of patient
populations affected will be
expected. Each group will be graded
on the above criteria as well as
creativity and clarity of information.
Peer reviews will also factor into
grading. See rubric for complete
outline.
Case Study Review & Reflection:
20%
Individual students will review for
nursing responsibility and
pharmacological impact on patient
wellness, disease management, and
course of treatment during, pre and
post hospital care.

Week 3, 4, 5,
6, & 7

Week 10

Individual
Grade

Peer and self review of Poster/Video

Presentations

10%

Week 11

Final Exam

30%

Finals Week

Also
includes
class
participation
and
attendance
Multiple
choice and
brief essay

Lesson Plan
Pharmacology in Nursing I: Week 11

Pharmacology in Nursing I
Review of Safety, Ethics, and Professional Responsibilities Related to
Medication Administration
Description:
Learner Outcome:
Identify 2 patient-centered
nursing responsibilities for
each of the following in
medication administration:
safety, ethical, and
professional practice.
(Blooms Level of Cognitive
Learning:
Application)

Activity
Preassigned readings in
the text and 2 journal
articles (0 minutes)

Instructional Method
Student-paced review
of information prior to
teacher review and
lecture.
Lecture with feedback on
Lecture with
Safety, Ethics, and
discussion:
Professional
The feedback lecture is
Responsibilities Related to time efficient for
Medication
content review and
Administration
allows for active
(45-50 minutes)
student participation,
especially when used to
lead into other teaching
methods (Billlings &
Halstead, 2010).
After break, students will
take randomly-assigned
pairing seats with
prepared questions to
identify nursing
responsibilities from
assigned readings. Then
they will discuss as a
group their findings.
(20-30 minutes)

Recognize the Importance of

Safe, Ethical, and
Professional Nursing
Responsibilities of
Medication Administration
(Blooms Level of Affective
Learning: Responding

Timed Reflection Paper:

Answer the following
question, How will the
nurse impact the patients
illness and wellness by
practicing safe, ethical,
and professional
medication
administration?
(10 minutes to review the
question and 10-15
minutes to reply)

Think-Pair-Share:
Cooperative learning
increases active
learning and is received
well by students.
Think-Pair-and-Share is
an effective method for
nursing education to
add variety to the
classroom setting and
increase student
engagement
(Fitzgerald, 2013).
Reflection Paper:
According to Billings
and Halstead (2010)
reflection promotes
connection to the
material learned and
creates application
links to real world
situations.

Evaluation
Informal
formative
assessment
via student
participation
, summative
assessment
via unit
exam
questions

Written
validation of
lesson
impact as
formative
assessment,
summative
assessment
via unit
exam
questions
unit exam

Pharmacology in Nursing I
questions
Correlations:
Learning Activity
Think-Pair-Share:
students will take
randomly-assigned
pairing seats with
prepared questions
to identify nursing
responsibilities
from assigned
readings. Then
they will discuss as
a group their
findings.

Module Outcome
Identify 2 patientcentered nursing
responsibilities for
each of the
following in
medication
administration:
safety, ethical, and
professional
practice.

Course Objectives
Apply basic terms
and concepts of
pharmacology,
pharmacokinetics,
and
pharmacodynamics
to patient care
situations.
Safely prepare
medications for
administration

Program Outcome
10.Plan and deliver high
quality, safe, culturally
competent patient centered
care by integrating the
nursing process, pertinent
nursing knowledge, and
principles of teaching and
learning to diverse
populations.
5.Collaborate with other
health care professionals to
develop and implement
teaching strategies to
promote wellness, prevent
illness, and restore health
to culturally
diverse clientele throughou
t their life.

Timed Reflection
Paper:
Answer the
following question,
How will the
nurse impact the
patients illness and
wellness by
practicing safe,
ethical, and
professional
medication
administration?

Recognize the
Importance of
Safe, Ethical, and
Professional
Nursing
Responsibilities of
Medication
Administration

Apply basic terms

and concepts of
pharmacology,
pharmacokinetics,
and
pharmacodynamics
to patient care
situations.
Safely prepare
medications for
administration

10.Plan and deliver high

quality, safe, culturally
competent patient centered
care by integrating the
nursing process, pertinent
nursing knowledge, and
principles of teaching and
learning to diverse
populations.

Pharmacology in Nursing I

References
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (2013). Accreditation manual: Section III
standards and criteria glossary, Retrieved from https://www.ncsbn.org/SC2013.pdf
Billings, D. M. & Halstead, J. A. (2012). Teaching in nursing: A guide for faculty (4th ed.). St.
Louis, MO: Elsevier Saunders.
Fitzgerald, D. (2013). Employing think-pair-share in associate degree nursing curriculum.
Teaching and Learning in Nursing, 8(3), 88-90.