Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

By the end of the course, the student will be able to:
1. Use current, reliable sources of information to access pertinent information about drugs and natural products, focusing on:

• finding and interpreting pertinent current information from a drug guide, comprehensive drug information sources, and electronic databases; and
• accessing and interpreting pharmacology-focused articles in current professional journals.

2. Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of drug therapy, focusing on:

• selection, interpretation, and prioritization of focused nursing assessments to detect therapeutic effects, side effects and adverse reactions, and drug-drug, drug-food, and drug-natural product interactions, and
•  surveillance for vulnerability to negative effects of specific classes of drugs based on age, developmental physiology, concurrent pathophysiology, psychopathology or other factors.

3. Teach persons, clients and/or family members, from diverse populations regarding safe and effective use of drugs and natural products, focusing on:

• 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 side/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.

4. Identify appropriate nursing interventions to increase therapeutic benefits and reduce potential negative effects of drug therapy, focusing on

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

5. Communicate appropriately with other health professionals regarding drug therapy, focusing on:

• 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.

Readings
Lecture
Case Studies
Group Projects/Postings
Classroom Activities
Drug Reference Review
Blackboard Activities/Quizzes/Puzzles & Games
 

Class Project
Quizzes/Final Exam
Clinical Performance
 

• Introduces pharmacological concepts related to neurological, immune system, acute cardiovascular, gastrointestinal,
endocrine,musculoskeletal, reproductive and antineoplastic drugs
• Utilize current sources of drug information to make decisions about appropriateness and effectiveness of drug therapy and teach people
safe and appropriate use of these drugs
• Identify appropriate interventions that increase the therapeutic benefit of these drug groups and communicate appropriately with
other healthcare professionals regarding drug therapy with these agents
• Identify and apply concepts of polypharmacy and implement life span considerations in the clinical care setting
Administer pharmacological substances by the intravenous route using correct administration technique to clients across the lifespan