NRS 239 Clinical Pharmacology For Nursing 3

This sequel to Clinical Pharmacology for Nursing 2 continues to provide the theoretical background that enables students to provide safe and effective care related to drugs and natural products to persons throughout the lifespan. Students will learn to make selected clinical decisions regarding using current, reliable sources of information, monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of drug therapy, teaching persons from diverse populations regarding safe and effective use of drugs and natural products, intervening to increase therapeutic benefits and reduce potential negative effects, and communicating appropriately with other health professionals regarding drug therapy. The course addresses additional classes of drugs and related natural products not contained in Clinical Pharmacology for Nursing 2.

Credits

2

Course Learning Outcomes

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

1. Evaluate the effects of client education, including:

- safe and effective use of drugs and natural products

- self-management of specific classes of over-the-counter and prescription drugs that are used episodically

- self-management of specific classes of drugs that are taken for chronic conditions

- how the action of specific classes of drugs relates to developmental, maturational, aging, neurochemical, and pathophysiological 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

- how to avoid or recognize drug-drug, drug-food, and drug-natural product interactions with specific classes of drugs

2. Evaluate nursing interventions used to increase therapeutic benefits and reduce potential negative effects of drug therapy, including:

- basic non-pharmacological nursing interventions that potentially enhance the effectiveness of specific classes of drugs

 - adherence to drug therapy with specific classes of drugs

3. Evaluate the effectiveness of drug therapy, including:

- selection and interpretation of basic focused nursing assessments to detect therapeutic effects, side effects, and adverse reactions

- drug-drug, drug-food, and drug-natural product interactions for specific classes of drugs

 - surveillance for vulnerability to negative effects of specific classes of drugs based on age, developmental physiology, and concurrent pathophysiology, psychopathology, or other factors

4. Communicate effectively with clients, families, and members of the care team:

- anticipated side effects and required nursing interventions

 - drug mechanisms of action and their relationship to normal physiology

- information about an individual’s response to specific classes of drugs or natural products

5. Communicate complex data with the healthcare team, clients, and families regarding pharmacological therapy, including:

- drug mechanisms of action and their relationship to normal physiology

- anticipated side effects and outcomes

- appropriate dosing and administration

6. Utilize current, reliable sources of information to access pertinent information about drugs and natural products, including:

- identification of appropriate reliable sources of information in specific nursing situations

- rapid retrieval of pertinent information from a current drug guide

- accurate retrieval of information from a comprehensive drug information source