Pharmacology (Nursing): Pharmacology -II

By the end of the course, each learner will be able to

1. Apply conceptual knowledge about the drugs used in CV, Respiratory, CNS, ANS & EENT and endocrine disorders and their mechanisms of action.
2. Calculate drug dosage calculations accurately when administering oral and parental medications.
3. Explain the rationale for using a particular drug/s for a patient.
4. Select appropriate nursing interventions for drugs given in clinical situations.
5. Impart teaching to the patient/family regarding medications, based on their needs.
6. Utilize nursing process to evaluate the need for and the effectiveness of the drug/s given to the patients.
7. Integrate the knowledge of legal and ethical issues in administration of drug.
8. Incorporate relevant research findings with guidance in development of new drug/s as a foundation for nursing practice.
9. Incorporate cognitive, interpersonal and technical skill derived from the humanities, natural and behavioral sciences when administrating medication to clients, keeping in mind principles of different drugs.
10. Begin to understand alternative therapies in medicine.
11. Utilize an advanced level of English Language in classroom and clinical setting for Pharmacology.

Teaching/Learning Strategies:

Lecture/handouts, self-directed learning, drug cards and quiz.

Unit I: Drugs used in Endocrine Disorders

This unit would discuss/describe the types of drugs used to treat problems associated with endocrine disorders. It also deals with their mechanism of action, nursing action required to ensure safety of clients using these drugs.

1. Antidiabetic Drugs

By the completion of this section the learners will be able to:

1. Review disease process of Diabetes mellitus.
2. Discuss the role of Insulin in metabolic process.
3. Discuss different types of anti-diabetic agents with their mode of action, side effects and care.
4. List the principles of therapy for all anti-diabetic agents.
5. State reasons for combinations of insulin and oral hypoglycaemic agents.
6. Calculate drug dosage accurately.
   2. Corticosteroids

By the completion of this section the learners will be able to:

1. Review the Anatomy & Physiology of adrenal glands.
2. Discuss the action, indication, side effects and contraindication of exogenous corticosteroids.
3. List few commonly used corticosteroids.
4. Differentiate between short term and long-term corticosteroid therapy.
5. Discuss the action, indication, side effects and contraindication of exogenous androgen therapy.
6. Discuss the consequences of abusing anabolic steroids.
7. Identify few names of anabolic steroids.
8. Apply nursing process for the clients using corticosteroids / androgens therapy.
9. Calculate drug dosage accurately.
   3. Thyroid and Antithyroid Drugs

By the completion of this section the learners will be able to:

1. Review the physiologic effects of thyroid hormone.
2. Identify effects of hypo and hyper secretions of thyroid hormone.
3. Discuss actions, indications, side effects and contraindications of thyroid and anti-thyroid drugs.
4. Integrate   the   influence   of   thyroid   and   anti-thyroid   drugs   on   the metabolism of other drugs.
5. Teach clients self-care activities related to the use of thyroid and anti- thyroid drugs.
6. Calculate drug dosages accurately.

C. Hypothalamus and Pituitary Drugs

By the completion of this unit learners will be able to:

1. Discuss   the   clinical   uses of  major     hypothalamus and pituitary hormones
2. Identify commonly used drugs and hormone replacement
3. State the major nursing consideration in the care of client receiving specific hypothalamic and pituitary hormones
4. Calculate the drug dosage accurately for oral and parental drug/ hormone used for hypothalamus and pituitary replacements

Drugs used for Nervous System Disorders

This unit would discuss/describe the types of drugs used to treat problems associated with autonomic nervous system disorders. It also deals with their mechanism of action, nursing action required to ensure safety of clients using these drugs.

A Anesthetic drugs

This unit would discuss/describe the types of drugs used to anesthetize the patient. It also deals with their mechanism of action, nursing action required to ensure safety of clients using these drugs.

By the completion of this section the learners will be able to:

1. Define the term anesthesia and anesthetic agents
2. Differentiate between different types of anesthesia
3. Identify the stages of general anesthesia
4. Describe Characteristics of general and local anesthetic agents.
5. Identify most commonly used anesthetic agents
6. Discuss factors considered when choosing anesthetic agents.
7. Compare general and local anesthesia in terms of administration, client’s safety and nursing care.
8. Discuss the rationale for using adjunctive drugs before and during surgical procedures.
9. Describe the nursing role in related to anesthetics and adjunctive drugs.
10. Discuss the action, indication and side effects of neuro-muscular blocking agent
11. Calculate the drug dosage of injectable anesthetic agent

B:      Anti-Convulsants

By the completion of this section the learners will be able to:

1. Discuss the pharmacokinetics, side effects and adverse reactions, therapeutic plasma phenytoin level
2. Identify the contraindications and drug interactions.
3. Explain the nursing interventions, including client teaching related to the use of anti-convulsants.
4. Calculate    the    drug   dosage    accurately    for   oral    and    parental anticonvulsants drug.

C:      Anti-Parkinson’s

By the completion of this section the learners will be able to:

1. Describe the action of anticholinergic drugs and dopaminergic drugs in treatment of Parkinsonism.
2. Differentiate between the types of commonly used anti-Parkinson’s drugs.
3. Describe the side effects of anti-Parkinson drugs.
4. Discuss the nursing interventions including clients teaching of drugs used in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease
5. Calculate the drug dosage accurately for oral and parental anti Parkinson’s drugs

D:      Anti Migraine and drugs for Trigeminal neuralgia

By the completion of this session learners will be able to

1. Discuss the action, contraindication and side effects of Antimigraine and Trigeminal neuralgia
2. Identify most commonly used drugs for migraine and Trigeminal neuralgia
3. State the major nursing care if client is using Anti migraine and Trigeminal neuralgia.
4. Calculate the drug dosage accurately for oral anti migraine and drugs for trigeminal neuralgia.

E.      Skeletal Muscle Relaxants

By the completion of this section the learners will be able to:

1. Discuss  common  symptoms/disorders    for   which skeletal muscle relaxants are used.
2. Describe uses and effects of skeletal muscle relaxants.
3. Differentiate between centrally acting and peripherally acting muscle relaxants
4. Describe non-pharmacologic interventions to relieve muscle spasm and spasticity.
5. Apply the nursing process with clients experiencing muscle spasm or spasticity.
6. Calculate the drug dosages accurately.

 Drugs used for Autonomic Nervous System Disorders

Drugs affecting Sympathetic Nervous System (Adrenergic & Anti- Adrenergic drugs)

This unit would discuss/describe the types of drugs used to treat problems associated with autonomic nervous system disorders. It also deals with their mechanism of action, nursing action required to ensure safety of clients using these drugs.

By the completion of this section the learners will be able to:

1. Differentiate effects of stimulation of alpha & beta-adrenergic receptors.
2. List characteristics of adrenergic and anti-adrenergic drugs in terms of effects on body tissues, indications for use, adverse effects, nursing process implications, principles of therapy and observations of clients responses.
3. List commonly used over the counter preparation that contains adrenergic drugs.
4. Discuss principles of therapy & nursing process for using adrenergic and anti-adrenergic drugs.
5. Discuss the nursing care including teaching client about safe and effective use of these classes of drugs.
6. Calculate drug dosage calculations accurately.

 Drugs Affecting Parasympathetic Nervous System

(CHOLINERGIC & ANTI- CHOLINERGIC DRUGS)

In this unit, the learners would discuss / describe the effect of drugs on Parasympathetic nervous system. This unit will also help learners to integrate the knowledge of drug to use to treat problems associated with parasympathetic nervous system. It also deals with their mechanism of

action, nursing action required to ensure safety of clients using these drugs.

By the completion of this section the learners will be able to:

1. List characteristics of Cholinergic & Anti-Cholinergic drugs in terms of effects on body tissues, indications for use, adverse effects, nursing process implications, principles of therapy and observations of client’s responses.
2. Discuss antidotes for cholinergic drugs & Anti-Cholinergic drugs.
3. Describe signs and symptoms of cholinergic drugs & Anti-Cholinergic drug overdose.
4. Describe major nursing care needs of clients receiving these classes of drugs.
5. Discuss principles of therapy & nursing process for using Cholinergic & Anti-Cholinergic drugs.
6. Teach the client about safe and effective use of these classes of drugs.
7. Calculate the drug dosage accurately for oral and parental drug affecting parasympathetic nervous system.

 Drugs Affecting the Cardio-Vascular System

In this unit, learners will gain an understanding of the drugs used to treat common disorders of the CVS, their pharmaco-kinetics and nursing measures.

1. Cardiac Glycosides and Antiairythmic Drugs

By the end of this unit learners will be able to:

1. Review     inotropic,     chronotropic     and     dromotropic     effects    of cardiovascular drugs.
2. Describe the therapeutic effects and therapeutic uses of digoxin.
3. Discuss digitalization.
4. Discuss the signs and symptoms of early moderate and severe digoxin toxicity.
5. Describe the nursing care related to digoxin toxicity.
6. Discuss pharmacological management of arrythmias.
7. Discuss nursing implication in relation to antiarrythmic drugs.
8. Calculate the drug dosage accurately while administering oral and perenteral medication.

2. Anti Anginal and Anti-Hypertensive Drugs

By the end of this unit learners will be able to:

1. Discuss the main classes of drugs that are used for treating AP.
2. Discuss the nursing responsibility of each class of drugs.
3. Discuss    the     pharmacological    management         of       hypertension          and hypertensive crisis.
4. Discuss the nursing responsibility related to antihypertensive drugs.
5. Calculate the drug dosage accurately while administering oral and parenteral medications.

3. Thrombolytic Therapy

1. Discuss the main classification of thrombolytic therapy.
2. discus the action of different thrombolytic therapy
3. Discuss the nursing responsibility during thrombolytic therapy

 Drugs Affecting the Respiratory System

In this unit, learners will be able to gain knowledge about the drugs affecting respiratory system, their mechanism of action, indication side effects and nursing consideration.

By the end of the unit learners will be able to:

1. Define antihistamine, Decongestant, antitussive and expectorant
2. List the drug groups that are used for the COPD and Asthma.
3. Explain the therapeutic effects, side effect, Toxic level and nursing consideration.
4. Calculate the drug dosage accurately while administering oral and parenteral medications.

A Anti Tuberculosis Drugs

In this unit, learners will be able to gain knowledge about drug used in the treatment of tuberculosis, their mechanism of action, indication, side effects and nursing consideration. By the end of the unit learners will be able to:

1. Discuss the characteristics of anti-tubercular drugs i.e.:
   • Mechanism action.
   • Indication
   • Contraindication.
2. Discuss Primary and Secondary management of TSB drugs.
3. Describe the rationale for multiple drug therapy in treatment of TB
4. Discuss   appropriate    nursing   implication   for   client   receiving   anti- tuberculin therapy.
5. Calculate the drug dosage accurately while administering oral and parenteral medications.

Drugs used in Ophthalmic/ENT Disorders

This unit would discuss/describe the types of drugs used to treat problems associated with ENT/Eye. It also deals with their mechanism of action, nursing action required to ensure safety of client using these drugs.

By the completion of this section the learners will be able to:

1. Review ocular structure that influence drug therapy
2. Discuss different categories of drugs used in E ENT disorders
3. Review the proper methods of instilling the EEN drops
4. Utilize nursing process while taking care of clients using drugs related to EENT disorders.
5. Calculate drug dosage calculations accurately.