Adventist University of the Philippines

College of Nursing

PHARMACOLOGY
COURSE OUTLINE

1st Semester
School Year 2010 -2011

INSTRUCTORS:
Beryl Ben C. Mergal, RN

CONSULTATION HOURS:
Fridays 9:00 – 12:00

COURSE NAME:
Pharmacology (Integrated NCM 302)

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course deals with pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, clinical/therapeutic uses and toxicology of
drugs. Emphasis is given on how a drug works to anticipate when giving a drug to a patient are of paramount
importance since nursing responsibilities include administering drugs, calculating medication dosages based
on given setting, assessing drug effects, intervening to make a drug more tolerable, and providing teaching
about drugs and the drug regimen.

COURSE CREDIT:
3 units (54 hours)

CONTACT HOURS/SEM:
54 lecture hours

PREREQUISITE:
Math 1 Basic Mathematics, General Chemistry, Anatomy and Physiology, NCM 102 Fundamentals of Nursing

PLACEMENT:
3rd Year 1st Semester

TERMINAL COMPETENCY:
At the end of the course and given relevant actual or simulated situations/conditions, the student will be able
to:
1. Understand the history and/or etiology of pharmacology
2. Apply concept and principles of pharmacology to ensure and proper use of drugs.
3. Explain the action, therapeutic use, preparation, dosage, mode of administration of selected drugs
and medicinal plants.
4. Discuss the role and responsibility of the nurse in pharmacology
5. Interpret medication orders.
6. Calculate medication orders based on the given setting.

COURSE SCHEDULE:
MW 1:00 – 5:00
TTh 1:00 – 5:00

TEACHING/LEARNING METHODS:
This course employs a classroom-directed learning using core powerpoint presentations, word documents
and case-solving activities.

REQUIREMENTS OF THE COURSE:

CRITERIA OF EVALUATION:
Quizzes 30%
Exams 40%
Participation 5%
Laboratory Assignments 25%
Total: 100%
WEEK DAY CONCEPTS
Week 1 1st Day ORIENTATION
I. Introduction to Pharmacology: Drug Regulation and Approval
A. History of Pharmacology
B. Pharmacology: The Study of Medicines
C. Pharmacology and Therapeutics
D. Classification of Therapeutic Agents
E. Prescription and OTC Drugs
F. Stages of Approval for Therapeutic and Biological Drugs
II. Drug Classes and Schedule
A. Therapeutic and Pharmacological Classification of Drugs
B. Chemical, Generic, and Trade Names for Drugs
C. Differences of Between Brand Name Drugs and their Generic
Equivalents
2nd Day III. Principles of Drug Administration
A. Medication Knowledge, Understanding, and Responsibilities of the
Nurse
B. The Rights of Drug Administration
C. Drug Orders and Time Schedules
IV. Basic Principles of Pharmacology
A. Drugs and Drug Use
B. Drug Nomenclature
C. Principal Action of Drugs
D. Undesirable Action of Drugs Factors that Modify Drug Response
E. Phases of Drug Action
V. Phases of Drug Action
A. Pharmaceutic Phase
B. Pharmacokinetic Phase
C. Pharmacodynamic Phase
Week 2 3rd Day VI. Interpretation of Medication Orders
A. Definition of Medication Order
B. Components of Medication Order
C. Common Abbreviations Used
D. Types of Medication Order
E. Interpreting a Medication Order
F. Understanding Drug Labels
G. Guidelines for Understanding the Medication Order
VII. Medication Errors and Risk Reduction
VIII. Legal Implications of Drug Therapy
A. Drug Laws Affecting Drug Therapy
B. Nurses Role in Drug Therapy
C. Rights of Administration
IX. Nursing Process and Client Teaching
X. Herbal and Alternative Therapies
4th Day XI. Systems Used for Drug Administration
A. Metric
B. Apothecaries
C. Household
XII. Conversion Within the Metric, Apothecary and Household System
XIII. Temperature Conversions
XIV. Calculating Intake and Output
Week 3 5th Day XV. Dosage Calculations
A. Methods of Calculations
B. Oral Dosages
C. Parenteral Dosages
D. Reconstitution of Medication
E. Parenteral Insulin
6th Day XVI. Dosage Calculations for Specialty Areas
A. Pediatric--Oral Medications
B. Pediatric--Parenteral Medications
C. Pediatric--Per Body Weight
Week 4 7th Day D. Pediatric--Dosages Per BSA and Adult
E. Pediatric--Calculating BSA Using Nomogram
F. Pediatric--Safe Dosages
G. Pediatric--IV Medications
8th Day H. Advanced IV Dosages from Flow Rate
I. Advanced IV Dosages Per Body Weight
J. Advanced IV Flow Rate from Dosage
 K. Advanced IV Flow Rate Per Body Weight
Week 5 9th Day L. Advanced IV—Heparin
M. Advanced IV--Insulin
N. Advanced IV--Labor and Delivery Medications
O. Advanced IV--Titrations
10th Day FINAL EXAMINATIONS

GRADING SYSTEM:
Carreon method will utilized in the evaluation of student performance using this formula:

____50_____ x Student Score + 50

98 – 100 A
94 – 97 A-
90 – 93 B+
86 – 89 B
82 – 85 B-
78 – 81 C+
75 – 77 C
0 – 74 Fail

REFERENCES:
Hayes,E.R., Kee, J.L., McCuisition, L.E., (2006). Pharmacology: A Nursing Process Approach (5th Ed.) St. Louis:
Elsevier Inc.

Adams, M.P., Holland, L.N., Bostwick, P. M., (2008). Pharmacology for Nurses: A Pathophysiological Approach
(2nd Ed.) New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall.

Kee, J.L., Hayes, E.R., (2007). Clinical Calculations with Applications to General and Special Areas. (6th Ed.) St:
Louis: Elsevier Inc.