Nursing Pharmacology Mastery
Course Description
The Nursing Pharmacology course is designed to equip nursing students with a comprehensive understanding of pharmacological principles, including drug actions, therapeutic applications, and adverse effects. This course emphasizes the importance of safe medication administration and patient education. Students will explore the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of various drug classes, gaining practical skills in dosage calculations, prescription writing, and understanding drug interactions. The curriculum covers essential pharmacological agents relevant to nursing practice, ensuring that students are prepared to apply their knowledge effectively in clinical settings.
What You’ll Learn From This Course
By the end of this course, students will:
- Understand the basic principles of pharmacology, including absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of drugs.
- Learn pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics across various drug categories.
- Develop practical skills in drug preparation, dosage calculations, and effective prescription writing.
- Identify and manage adverse drug reactions and interactions.
- Recognize therapeutic uses of drugs in treating common health conditions.
- Gain insight into contemporary advancements in various pharmacological therapies.
- Explore clinical pharmacology as it pertains to specific organ systems, including cardiovascular, respiratory, endocrine, and central nervous systems.
Course Outline (Contents and Division)
Total Duration: 3 Months
Total Lectures: 36 (12 lectures per month)
Month 1 (Lectures 1-12)
- Introduction to Pharmacology
- Overview of pharmacology and its relevance to nursing practice.
- Pharmacological Principles
- Understanding drug classification and mechanisms of action.
- Routes of Drug Administration – Part 1
- Various methods for administering medications.
- Calculating Drug Dosages (Practical)
- Practical skills in dosage calculations for safe medication administration.
- Routes of Drug Administration – Part 2
- Continuation of drug administration techniques.
- Pharmacological Abbreviations (Practical)
- Familiarization with common abbreviations used in prescriptions.
- Drug Absorption
- Factors influencing how drugs are absorbed in the body.
- Prescription Writing (Practical)
- Skills in writing and interpreting medication prescriptions.
- Bioavailability and Half-Life
- Concepts of drug bioavailability and the significance of half-life.
- Pharmaceutical Preparations (Practical)
- Hands-on preparation of common pharmaceutical products.
- Drug Distribution
- Understanding the factors affecting drug distribution within the body.
- Metabolism of Drugs
- Overview of biotransformation and its importance in pharmacology.
Month 2 (Lectures 13-24)
- Drug Excretion
- Mechanisms of drug elimination from the body.
- Pharmacodynamics – Part 1
- How drugs exert their effects on the body.
- Factors Affecting Drug Action
- Understanding various factors that influence drug efficacy.
- Administering IV Fluids (Practical)
- Practical skills in preparing and administering intravenous solutions.
- Adverse Drug Reactions
- Identification and management of adverse effects associated with medications.
- Understanding Teratogenic Drugs
- Overview of drugs that can cause fetal harm during pregnancy.
- Introduction to NSAIDs
- Mechanisms and therapeutic uses of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs.
- Prescription Writing – Part 2 (Practical)
- Advanced skills in writing prescriptions for complex drug regimens.
- Introduction to Antibiotics
- Overview of antibiotics and their mechanisms of action.
- Cell Wall Synthesis Inhibitors
- In-depth exploration of antibiotics targeting bacterial cell wall synthesis.
- Patient Case Studies (Practical)
- Case-based learning focusing on medication management.
- Ethical Considerations in Pharmacology
- Understanding the ethical aspects of pharmacological treatments in nursing.
Month 3 (Lectures 25-36)
- Aminoglycosides
- Overview of aminoglycoside antibiotics and their clinical applications.
- Tetracycline Antibiotics
- Mechanisms and therapeutic uses of tetracycline antibiotics.
- Broad-Spectrum Antibiotics
- Discussion of various broad-spectrum antibiotics used in practice.
- Pharmaceutical Compounding (Practical)
- Skills in compounding medications tailored to individual patient needs.
- Understanding Sulfonamides
- Overview and uses of sulfonamide antibiotics.
- Anti-Tuberculosis Therapy
- Overview of pharmacological agents used in tuberculosis treatment.
- Anti-Fungal Medications
- Mechanisms and applications of antifungal drugs.
- Anti-Viral Therapies – Part 1
- Introduction to antiviral agents and their mechanisms of action.
- Anti-Viral Therapies – Part 2
- Detailed exploration of drugs used for treating viral infections.
- Patient Education on Medications (Practical)
- Skills in educating patients about their medications and treatment regimens.
- Revision Class
- Review of key concepts and preparation for final assessments.
- Final Assessment and Course Review
- Comprehensive evaluation and feedback on course performance.
Certification
Upon successful completion of the Nursing Pharmacology course, students will receive a Certificate of Completion. This certification signifies that the student has acquired in-depth knowledge and practical skills in pharmacology, preparing them to apply these principles in various nursing contexts.
Instructor
