Course Number:
NRS 239
Transcript Title:
Clinical Pharmacology for Nursing 3
Created:
Apr 30, 2024
Updated:
May 01, 2024
Total Credits:
2
Lecture Hours:
20
Lecture / Lab Hours:
0
Lab Hours:
0
Satisfies Cultural Literacy requirement:
No
Satisfies General Education requirement:
No
Grading Options
A-F
Default Grading Options
A-F
Repeats available for credit:
0
Prerequisites

NRS 238

Corequisites: NRS 112, NRS 236

Course Description

Provides the theoretical background for providing safe and effective nursing care related to the use of drugs and natural products by individuals throughout their lifespan. Covers the foundational concepts and principles of pharmacology, as well as numerous classes of drugs, including: neurological drugs, psychotropic drugs, antineoplastic drugs, immune system-related drugs, and vitamins. Develops skills for making selected clinical decisions in the context of nursing regarding the use of current, reliable sources of information, monitoring, and evaluating the effectiveness of drug therapy, teaching individuals from diverse populations regarding safe and effective use of drugs and natural products, intervening to increase therapeutic benefits and reduce potential negative effects. Communicating appropriately with other health professionals regarding drug therapy. The third course in the three course Clinical Pharmacology for Nursing series. Prerequisite: NRS 238. Corequisites: NRS 112, NRS 236.

Course Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

  1. Identify important data on medications and natural components from reputable and current sources.
  2. Evaluate the effectiveness of drug therapies, including: neurological drugs, psychotropic drugs, antineoplastic drugs, immune system-related drugs, and vitamins.
  3. Instruct patients, family members, and others from diverse populations across the lifespan regarding safe and effective use of drugs and natural products.
  4. Identify appropriate nursing interventions to increase therapeutic benefits and reduce potential negative effects of drug therapy.
  5. Communicate appropriately with other health professionals regarding drug therapy.

Suggested Outcome Assessment Strategies

The determination of assessment strategies is generally left to the discretion of the instructor. Here are some strategies that you might consider when designing your course: writings (journals, self-reflections, pre writing exercises, essays), quizzes, tests, midterm and final exams, group projects, presentations (in person, videos, etc), self-assessments, experimentations, lab reports, peer critiques, responses (to texts, podcasts, videos, films, etc), student generated questions, Escape Room, interviews, and/or portfolios.

Department suggestions: exams, group projects, poster presentations, drug concept maps

Course Activities and Design

The determination of teaching strategies used in the delivery of outcomes is generally left to the discretion of the instructor. Here are some strategies that you might consider when designing your course: lecture, small group/forum discussion, flipped classroom, dyads, oral presentation, role play, simulation scenarios, group projects, service learning projects, hands-on lab, peer review/workshops, cooperative learning (jigsaw, fishbowl), inquiry based instruction, differentiated instruction (learning centers), graphic organizers, etc.

Course Content

Outcome #1: Identify important data on medications and natural components from reputable and current sources.

  • access and interpret relevant and current information from drug guide, comprehensive drug databases and electronic resources.
  • research the variables that impact and individual’s response to medications.
  • access and interpret pharmacology-focused articles in current professional journals.

Outcome #2: Evaluate the effectiveness of drug therapies, including: neurological drugs, psychotropic drugs, antineoplastic drugs, immune system-related drugs, and vitamins.

  • Choosing, interpreting, and prioritizing specific nursing assessment to identify therapeutic benefits, adverse reactions, and potential interactions between drugs, food and natural products, Drug classes:
    • Neurological Drugs
    • Psychotropic Drugs
    • Antineoplastic Drugs
    • Immune System-Related Drugs
    • Vitamins 
  • Monitoring for susceptibility to negative effects of specific classes of drugs based on age, developmental physiology, genetic polymorphisms, concurrent pathophysiology, psychopathology, or other factors.

Outcome #3: Instruct patients, family members, and others from diverse populations across the lifespan regarding safe and effective use of drugs and natural products

Focusing on assigned drugs classes assigned in #2

  • self-management of specific classes of over the counter and prescription drugs that are used episodically,
  • self-management of multiple drugs that are taken concurrently for chronic conditions,
  • how the action of specific classes of drugs relates to pathophysiological processes, neurochemical processes, or normal physiology,
  • which adverse effects of specific classes of drugs and natural products to self-manage and which ones to report to health professionals, and
  • how to avoid or recognize drug-drug, drug-food, and drug-natural product interactions with specific classes of drugs.

Outcome #4: Identify appropriate nursing interventions to increase therapeutic benefits and reduce potential negative effects of drug therapy,

Focusing on the assigned drug classes in #2

  • identification of basic nonpharmacological nursing interventions that potentially enhance the effectiveness of specific classes of drugs and
  • assessment of barriers to adherence to drug therapy, including social determinants of health, with specific classes of drugs, and
  • recognition and basic strategies for reduction of polypharmacy in older adults.

Outcome #5: Communicate appropriately with other health professionals regarding drug therapy.

Focusing on assigned drug classes assigned in #2:

  • using appropriate technical language related to pharmacology,
  • explaining drug mechanisms of action and their relationship to normal physiology, and
  • prioritizing and reporting pertinent information about an individual's response to specific classes of drugs or natural products.

Suggested Texts and Materials

  • Burchum & Rosenthal.  (2222) Lehne’s Pharmacology for nursing care (11th ed.) St. Louis: MO: Elsevier.
  • Skidmore; Roth, L. (2023) Mosby's 2023 Nursing Drug Reference (36th ed.) St. Louis, MO: Elsevier