TITLE:  NUR 1161 – Nursing Pharmacology (elective)

 

Course description:  This overview of pharmacology focuses on the nurse’s responsibility in drug administration.  Drug categories are utilized to identify uses, major side-effects, interactions and essential nursing knowledge.  One hour per week.  (Admission to the associate degree nursing program is a pre-requisite.)

 

Credit:  1 semester hour

 

Course objectives and content:

 

Upon completion of NUR 1161, Nursing Pharmacology, the student will:

  1. identify major drug classifications.
  2. compare prototype drugs and their uses, actions, and side effects.
  3. identify the nurse’s role in safe drug administration.

 

Required Text:  Deglin, J. H. and Vallerand, A. H.  Davis’s Drug Guide for Nurses, 9th or 10th edition, F. A. Davis, 2005, 2007. Accompanying computer disk required.

 

Teaching strategies:

Self-study format, use of disk accompanying the textbook, library databases, student/instructor conferences, written assignments.

 

Course Requirements, Policies, Process:

 

The student must complete the required information, in their own handwriting, by the listed dates.  The first 30 drugs must be completed by the first day of mid-term week (March 5), the remaining drugs must be turned in to the instructor by April 27.  In order to receive an A in this course, the first 30 drugs must be turned in by March 5.  The assignment for each drug must be complete and thorough for credit.  If you prefer, you may complete this information on a 5 X 7 note card so that you can use for clinical in the future.  When you turn in the assignment, make sure all drug information is in the order that it is provided in the syllabus.  In the section related to “Most important things related to administration of this drug”, you need to include information related to precautions you, the nurse, should take (such as only administering with a pump) or essential patient teaching (such as taking in evenly spaced doses).

 

The student must also complete the test, Preventing Medication Errors, on the CD accompanying the text.  A print-out with the score must be turned in to the instructor by April 27.  Failure to complete the test will result in a loss of one letter grade (i.e. B becomes a C).

 

 

 

 

 

A grade will be determined by:  completing all assignments, submitting the assignments by the stated date, completing the test on the CD.

A – 1st 30 drugs by March 5 (mid-term), remainder by April 27, test on CD by April 27.

B – all drugs completed and turned in on time, failure to do test on CD

Grade will be calculated based on percentage of work completed according to situation.

 

Policies related to grade appeal are outlined in the student handbook for the associate degree nursing program.

 

Introduction:  The administration of medications is an essential responsibility of the nurse.  Errors in writing the order by the physician, transcribing the order by the secretary, or in dispensing the medication by the pharmacist are ultimately the nurse’s responsibility to identify because he/she will be the one administering the drug to the client.  It is imperative that the nurse know the action, correct dose, correct route, and common side effects of every drug administered.

 

There are thousands of drugs; you can not remember each one.  Here are some tips to help you remember information about drugs.

 

  1. Drugs are used to diagnose, prevent, relieve or cure certain diseases.
  2. Drugs effect their action by blocking, altering or changing different hormonal or chemical processes in the body. (acetaminophen affects the production of prostaglandins which are mediators in pain and fever).
  3. Drugs in the same family will have similar uses, actions and side effects.  Use this to help you remember information about broad classifications of drugs. (Aminoglycoside antibiotics have side effects of ototoxicity and nephrotoxicity.)
  4. Look up terms that you do not know!
  5. Many drugs have similar names that often result in medication errors. (Cytotec and cytoxan)
  6. Know the term half-life. This is the time it takes for the drug level to decrease by ˝.  It is seconds for some drugs (Adenosine <10 seconds) and days for other (Phenobarbital 2 – 6 days).
  7. Drugs usually cause some side effects in the very body system that they are given to treat. (Blood pressure meds have cardiovascular side effects.)
  8. If you are unfamiliar with a drug, look it up in a drug book.

 

These are some common teachings that you would give every patient taking a medication:

  1. take it as ordered.
  2. call if you experience side effects.
  3. keep it out of the reach of children.
  4. Don’t share it with others.
  5. Don’t stop if without notifying your health care provider.

Don’t include these on the form for the drugs you look up.

 

 

Complete the following information for each drug listed below. 

Drugs Affecting the Musculoskeletal System and/or pain response:

1.      Generic:  aspirin

 

Trade:

 

Pharmacologic Class:

 

Action:

 

      4 most significant S/E:

 

4 most important things related

to administration of this drug:

 

 

 

 

2.      Generic: acetaminophen

 

Trade:

 

Pharmacologic Class:

 

Action:

 

4 most significant S/E:

 

4 most important things related to administration of this drug:

 

 

 

 

 

3.      Generic: dantrolene

 

Trade:

 

Pharmacologic Class:

 

Action:

 

4 most significant S/E:

 

4 most important things related

to administration of this drug:

4.      Generic: morphine

 

Trade:

 

Pharmacologic Class:

 

Action:

 

4a.  Generic: butorphanol

 

Trade:

 

Pharmacologic Class:

 

Action:

 

4 most significant S/E:

 

4 most important things related

to administration of these drugs:

 

5.      Generic: narcan

 

Trade:

 

Pharmacologic Class:

 

Action:

 

4 most significant S/E:

 

4 most important things related

to administration of this drug:

 

6.      Generic: alendronate

 

Trade:

 

Pharmacologic Class:

 

Action:

 

4 most significant S/E:

 

4 most important things related

to administration of this drug:

Drugs Affecting the Central Nervous System:
  1. Generic: phenobarbital

 

Trade:

 

Pharmacologic Class:

 

            Action:

 

4 most significant S/E:

 

4 most important things related

 to administration of this drug:

 

 

 

 

  1. Generic: diazepam

 

Trade:

 

Pharmacologic Class:

 

            Action:

 

4 most significant S/E:

 

4 most important things related to

administration of this drug:

 

 

 

  1. Generic: phenytoin

 

Trade:

 

Pharmacologic Class:

 

            Action:

 

4 most significant S/E:

 

4 most important things related to

administration of this drug:

 

 

 

 

 

  1. Generic: paroxetine

 

Trade:

 

Pharmacologic Class:

 

            Action:

 

4 most significant S/E:

 

4 most important things related to

administration of this drug:

 

 

 

 

  1. Generic: carbidopa/levodopa

 

Trade:

 

Pharmacologic Class:

 

            Action:

 

4 most significant S/E:

 

4 most important things related to

administration of this drug:

 

  1. Generic: chlorpromazine

 

Trade:

 

Pharmacologic Class:

 

            Action:

 

4 most significant S/E:

 

4 most important things related

to administration of this drug:

 

 

 

 

  1. Generic: zolpidem

 

Trade:

 

Pharmacologic Class:

 

            Action:

 

4 most significant S/E:

 

4 most important things related

to administration of this drug:

 

 

 

 

 

  1. Generic: donepezil

 

Trade:

 

Pharmacologic Class:

 

            Action:

 

4 most significant S/E:

 

4 most important things related

to administration of this drug:

 

 

  1. Generic: methyphenidate

 

Trade:

 

Pharmacologic Class:

 

            Action:

 

4 most significant S/E:

 

4 most important things related

to administration of this drug:

 

 

 

 

 

  1. Generic: flumazenil

 

Trade:

 

Pharmacologic Class:

 

            Action:

 

4 most significant S/E:

 

4 most important things related

to administration of this drug:

 

 

 

Drugs affecting the Cardiovascular System:

  1. Generic: nitroglycerin

 

Trade:

 

Pharmacologic Class:

 

            Action:

 

4 most significant S/E:

 

4 most important things related

to administration of this drug:

 

  1. Generic: lidocaine

 

Trade:

 

Pharmacologic Class:

 

            Action:

 

4 most significant S/E:

 

4 most important things related

to administration of this drug:

 

 

 

 

  1. Generic: digoxin:

 

Trade:

 

Pharmacologic Class:

 

            Action:

 

4 most significant S/E:

 

4 most important things related

to administration of this drug:

 

 

 

 

  1. Generic: adenosine

 

Trade:

 

Pharmacologic Class:

 

            Action:

 

4 most significant S/E:

 

4 most important things related

to administration of this drug:

 

 

  1. Generic: captopril

 

Trade:

 

Pharmacologic Class:

 

            Action:

 

4 most significant S/E:

 

4 most important things related

to administration of this drug:

 

 

 

  1. Generic: propranolol (betablockers – ends in –olol)

 

Trade:

 

Pharmacologic Class:

 

            Action:

 

4 most significant S/E:

 

4 most important things related

to administration of this drug:

 

 

 

 

  1. Generic: diltiazem

 

Trade:

 

Pharmacologic Class:

 

            Action:

 

4 most significant S/E:

 

4 most important things related

to administration of this drug:

 

 

 

8. Generic: nitroprusside

 

Trade:

 

Pharmacologic Class:

 

            Action:

 

4 most significant S/E:

 

4 most important things related

to administration of this drug:

 

 

 

 

  1. Generic: dopamine

 

Trade:

 

Pharmacologic Class:

 

            Action:

 

4 most significant S/E:

 

4 most important things related

to administration of this drug:

 

 

 

 

  1. Generic: dipyridamole

 

Trade:

 

Pharmacologic Class:

 

            Action:

 

4 most significant S/E:

 

4 most important things related

to administration of this drug:

 

 

  1. Generic: warfarin

 

Trade:

 

Pharmacologic Class:

 

            Action:

 

4 most significant S/E:

 

4 most important things related

to administration of this drug:

 

 

 

 

  1. Generic: atorvastatin

 

Trade:

 

Pharmacologic Class:

 

            Action:

 

4 most significant S/E:

 

4 most important things related

to administration of this drug:

 

 

 

 

  1. Generic: furosemide

 

Trade:

 

Pharmacologic Class:

 

            Action:

 

4 most significant S/E:

 

4 most important things related to

administration of this drug:

 

All of the above drugs are due by the first day of mid-term (March 5).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Drugs affecting the Respiratory System:
  1. Generic: albuterol

 

Trade:

 

Pharmacologic Class:

 

            Action:

 

4 most significant S/E:

 

4 most important things related to administration of this drug:

 

 

 

  1. Generic: theophylline

 

Trade:

 

Pharmacologic Class:

 

            Action:

 

4 most significant S/E:

 

4 most important things related to administration of this drug:

 

 

 

  1.  Generic: cromolyn

 

Trade:

 

Pharmacologic Class:

 

            Action:

 

4 most significant S/E:

 

4 most important things related to administration of this drug:

 

 

 

 

 

 

  1. Generic: diphenhydramine

 

Trade:

 

Pharmacologic Class:

 

            Action:

 

4 most significant S/E:

 

4 most important things related to administration of this drug:

 

 

 

 

  1.  Generic: prednisone

 

Trade:

 

Pharmacologic Class:

 

            Action:

 

4 most significant S/E:

 

4 most important things related to administration of this drug:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Drugs Affecting the Immune System:

 

1. Generic: amphotericin B

 

Trade:

 

Pharmacologic Class:

 

            Action:

 

4 most significant S/E:

 

4 most important things related to

administration of this drug:

 

 

 

 

  1. Generic: gentamicin

 

Trade:

 

Pharmacologic Class:

 

            Action:

 

4 most significant S/E:

 

4 most important things related to

administration of this drug:

 

 

 

  1. Generic: ceftriaxone (3rd generation cephalosporin) (wonder what 1st and 2nd are?)

 

Trade:

 

Pharmacologic Class:

 

            Action:

 

4 most significant S/E:

 

4 most important things related to

administration of this drug:

 

  1. Generic: ciprofloxacin

 

Trade:

 

Pharmacologic Class:

 

            Action:

 

4 most significant S/E:

 

4 most important things related to

administration of this drug:

 

 

 

 

  1. Generic: erythromycin

 

Trade:

 

Pharmacologic Class:

 

            Action:

 

4 most significant S/E:

 

4 most important things related to

administration of this drug:

 

 

 

 

  1. Generic: amoxicillin

 

Trade:

 

Pharmacologic Class:

 

            Action:

 

4 most significant S/E:

 

4 most important things related to

administration of this drug:

 

 

 

  1. Generic: doxycycline

 

Trade:

 

Pharmacologic Class:

 

            Action:

 

4 most significant S/E:

 

4 most important things related to

administration of this drug:

 

 

 

 

  1. Generic: trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole

 

Trade: SEPTRA

 

Pharmacologic Class:

 

            Action:

 

4 most significant S/E:

 

4 most important things related to

administration of this drug:

 

 

 

 

  1. Generic: didanoxine

 

Trade:

 

Pharmacologic Class:

 

            Action:

 

4 most significant S/E:

 

4 most important things related to

administration of this drug:

 

 

  1. Generic: isoniazid

 

Trade:

 

Pharmacologic Class:

 

            Action:

 

4 most significant S/E:

 

4 most important things related to

administration of this drug:

 

 

 

 

  1. Generic: acyclovir

 

Trade:

 

Pharmacologic Class:

 

            Action:

 

4 most significant S/E:

 

4 most important things related to

administration of this drug:

 

 

 

 

  1. Generic: cyclosporine

 

Trade:

 

Pharmacologic Class:

 

            Action:

 

4 most significant S/E:

 

4 most important things related to

administration of this drug:

 

 

  1. Generic: cisplatin

 

Trade:

 

Pharmacologic Class:

 

            Action:

 

4 most significant S/E:

 

4 most important things related to

administration of this drug:

 

 

  1.  Drugs affecting the Endocrine System: (The 1st 6 drugs are used to treat hyperglycemia.  Guess what the most common side effect for all would be?)

 

  1. Generic: acarbose

 

Trade:

 

Pharmacologic Class:

 

            Action:

 

  1. Generic: metformin

 

Trade:

 

Pharmacologic Class:

 

            Action:

 

  1. Generic: nateglinide      

 

Trade:

 

Pharmacologic Class:

 

            Action:

 

 

 

 

 

 

  1. Generic: glyburide

 

Trade:

 

Pharmacologic Class:

 

            Action:

 

  1. Generic: regular insulin

 

Trade:

 

Pharmacologic Class:

 

            Action:

 

  1. Generic: glargine insulin

 

Trade:

 

Pharmacologic Class:

 

            Action:

 

4 most significant S/E:

 

6 most important things related to

administration of these drugs:

 

 

 

 

  1. Generic: synthyroid

 

Trade:

 

Pharmacologic Class:

 

            Action:

 

4 most significant S/E:

 

4 most important things related to

administration of this drug:

 

 

Drugs affecting the GI System:

  1. Generic: loperamide

 

Trade:

 

Pharmacologic Class:

 

            Action:

 

4 most significant S/E:

 

4 most important things related to

administration of this drug:

 

 

 

 

  1. Generic: ondanestron

 

Trade:

 

Pharmacologic Class:

 

            Action:

 

4 most significant S/E:

 

4 most important things related to

administration of this drug:

 

 

 

 

  1. Generic: promethazine

 

Trade:

 

Pharmacologic Class:

 

            Action:

 

4 most significant S/E:

 

4 most important things related to

administration of this drug:

 

  1. Generic: aluminum hydroxide

 

Trade:

 

Pharmacologic Class:

 

            Action:

 

4 most significant S/E:

 

4 most important things related to

administration of this drug:

 

 

 

 

  1. Generic: lansoprazole

 

Trade:

 

Pharmacologic Class:

 

            Action:

 

4 most significant S/E:

 

4 most important things related to

administration of this drug:

 

 

 

 

  1. Generic: famotidine

 

Trade:

 

Pharmacologic Class:

 

            Action:

 

4 most significant S/E:

 

4 most important things related to

administration of this drug:

 

 

  1. Generic: psyllium

 

Trade:

 

Pharmacologic Class:

 

            Action:

 

4 most significant S/E:

 

4 most important things related to

administration of this drug:

 

 

 

 

  1. Generic: magnesium citrate

 

Trade:

 

Pharmacologic Class:

 

            Action:

 

4 most significant S/E:

 

4 most important things related to

administration of this drug:

 

 

 

 

  1. Generic: docusate

 

Trade:

 

Pharmacologic Class:

 

            Action:

 

4 most significant S/E:

 

4 most important things related to

Administration of this drug:

 

Don’t forget the medication errors test!