Course Syllabus
Course Description
Number: NURS5400
Title: Advanced Pharmacology
Credit: 2-0-2
Catalog description: This course includes principles of pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, drug metabolism and transport, assessment of drug effects, drug therapy in special populations, and contemporary drug development as a foundation for the use of medications in the clinical management of diseases. Major classes of drugs will be discussed in terms of actions; therapeutic and other effects; adverse, allergic and idiosyncratic reactions; indications and contraindications. Emphasis is placed on nursing responsibility, accountability, and application of the nursing process regarding drug therapy in a variety of settings with individuals across the life span.
Prerequisite(s): Admission to Graduate Nursing Program or Senior Standing in BSN Program with 3.00 GPA
Corequisite(s): None
Textbook Information
Required:
None
Useful Web Resources:
| NIH Pharmacology ABCs | http://www.nigms.nih.gov/medbydesign/pharmacology/ |
| Merck Manual | http://www.merck.com/pubs/ |
| WebMD Health | http://my.webmd.com/webmd_today/home/default |
| Newscientist | http://www.newscientist.com |
| BBC Health | http://bbc.co.uk/health |
| PubMed | http://ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/PubMed/ |
Technology Requirements
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Each CSU student is required to have ready access throughout the semester to a notebook computer that meets the ITP Choice requirements (http://itpchoice.clayton.edu/) for the student's academic program.
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Students must have access to the Internet either through the on-campus local area network or through an Internet Service Provider.
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Students must be proficient with Internet access, WebCT Vista and Microsoft Office and demonstrate competency using web browsers, website navigation, search engines and e-mail communication.
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Contact the HUB for software and connectivity issues; no excuse will be accepted for inability to access the Internet and/or technical difficulties.
Course Objectives
By the completion of this course, the student should be able to:
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Identify the scope of nursing responsibility, accountability and application of the nursing process regarding drug therapy across the lifespan.
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Develop a comprehensive knowledge of drug classifications, mechanisms of action, adverse drug effects and pharmacology application.
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Identify any potential contraindications or allergies related to drug therapy.
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Analyze ways in which homeostatic, adaptive, and compensatory physiological mechanisms can be supported and/or altered through pharmacological intervention.
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Synthesize current research findings with evidence-based guidelines for the management of selected diseases.
Methods of Instruction
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Weekly discussion questions (DQ): Each week, discussion questions will be posted online. Students are to post their responses to the DQs as well as respond to other students’ postings. Postings should demonstrate reflective thought and insight.
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Powerpoint lectures posted by course faculty
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Learning Team Activities: During the first week of class, students will be assigned to a learning team. Questions that pertain to specific pathophysiological concepts and disease processes will be posted weekly. The purpose is for students to apply these concepts to patients seen in their specific disciplines.
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Quizzes: Quiz questions will be short answer and will be given at least five days before they are due. Most quizzes will consist of 20 questions. Students are to complete the quizzes independently.
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Monograph: Each student will select a drug that has been released by the FDA in the past 24months. You will be required to write an analysis of the medication. Themonograph should include the following: mechanism of action, indications (both FDA and other uses), comparative efficacy, pharmacokinetics, side effects, precautions, contraindications, teratogenicity, dosing, availability, pharmacoeconomics, monitoring, patient education, and place in therapy. The monograph should be not more than 10 pages long. References including primary literature are follow APA format. The students should decide on the drug they are doing by the fourth week. There will be no duplications by other students. The monographs can be handed in any time during the course but must be in by week 11.
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Case Studies: Students will complete a total of 3 case studies. Scoring will be based on overall thoroughness of the evaluation of the selected case and the ability to integrate pathophysiological, pharmacological, and health assessment concepts. Case study grading criteria is as follows:
|
Criteria |
Maximum Points |
| Discussion of basic problems and history given, to include primary and secondary systems likely to be involved. | 5 |
| Anticipated physical findings with the selected problem. | 5 |
| Effect on the primary physiologic system (Assessment). | 20 |
| Effect on the secondary systems (Assessment). | 20 |
| Assessment of laboratory or other diagnostic data. | 10 |
| Anticipated effects with progression of the problem(s). | 10 |
| Interventions to prevent further progression. | 10 |
| Discussion/summary of case, including how the case may be related to problems seen in the student’s discipline. | 20 |
Course Requirements
- Courses taught in an online format require students to be self-directed and responsible for meeting deadlines.
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Participation in online, asynchronous discussions is a
course requirement. Students are required to participate in
the discussions prompted by the weekly discussion questions.
To meet the online participation requirements, students must
engage in discussions 3 out of 7 days of the week and
contribute at least two substantive responses to peers’
responses in addition to answering the assigned discussion
questions. Each
discussion consists of the following:
- Post your thoughts/insights/ideas for your colleagues to consider.
- Read a sampling of your colleagues' postings.
- Respond to a designated number of postings.
- Review initial posting and reflect on your colleagues’ responses and your own learning.
- Responses should be a minimum of 100 words.
- Discussion and participation grading rubric is explained in detail on course website.
- Attendance is mandatory at scheduled on-campus meetings.
- Students are expected to use APA format for all submitted papers.
- Approval must be obtained from the University Institutional Review Board for all research studies.
- This syllabus provides a general plan for this course; the faculty reserve the right to make changes to the syllabus and/or course schedule including but not limited to assignments, time tables, examinations, projects, etc.
Evaluation
|
Weekly Discussion Questions |
10% |
| Learning Team Activities/Assignments | 10% |
| Monograph | 20% |
| Case Studies (4) | 20% |
| Quizzes (4) | 40% |
Grading Scale
| 90-100% | A |
| 80-89% | B |
| 70-79% | C |
| Below 70% | F |
Classroom Policies
- Attendance: Mandatory for scheduled on-campus meetings.
- Communication: WebCT Vista is the official tool for this course and is accessible online from any computer; students are responsible for monitoring e-mail on a regular basis and should direct all communications with faculty and other students through WebCT or Clayton State e-mail.
- Conduct: Students must abide by policies in the University Graduate Student Handbook, the Graduate Student Responsibilities, and if applicable program handbook; the code of academic integrity will be strictly enforced.
- Electronic devices: Cell phones/pagers must be turned off (or placed on vibrator mode) during class meetings. Permission from individual faculty is necessary before taping a class.
- Mid-term progress report: Mid-term grade will reflect approximately 1/3 of the entire course grade. Based on this grade, students may choose to withdraw from the course and receive a grade of “W”; contact the Registrar for withdrawal procedures.
- Submission: Students are responsible for completion and submission of all course requirements as scheduled in the course calendar. Make-up work is at the discretion of the faculty.
To obtain this document in an alternative format, contact the Disability Resource Center.