NUR 160 - Pharmacology for Nurses

In this course the student is introduced to the concepts of basic pharmacology and the role of the nurse in the management of drug therapy. The main focus is on the Core Competencies© of patient-centered care, safety, communication, evidence-based practice, and system-based practice. Physical, biological, psychosocial, cultural, intellectual, spiritual, and environmental factors that influence drug therapy are stressed as they apply to administration of medication and safe patient care.

At the completion of the course, the student will:

Identify the multi-dimensions of patient-centered care that influence safe drug therapies.
Describe the mechanisms of action, drug effects, therapeutic uses, side effects, adverse effects, interactions, and nursing implications for specific drug classifications.
Calculate safe drug dosages.
Explain the roles of the professional nurse and the health care team as they relate to safe drug therapy and administration.
Apply the components of the nursing process to the safe administration of medications.
Apply the best current evidence to make practice decisions related to drug therapy.
Apply principles of effective communication when educating clients about drug therapy.

Prerequisite(s): Completion of NUR 101, NUR 102, ENG 101, PSY 101, and BIO 231.
Corequisite(s): NUR 155, NUR 156, BIO 232, ANT 101
Note(s): Open to Nursing students only.

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