Pharmacology Syllabus for 2016-2017
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Course Information

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Administrative Drop Policy

Students who do not attend class on or prior to the census date will be administratively dropped. Effective Fall, 2016

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• consult with their instructor to obtain a signed academic withdrawal request form to submit to the AskAC department for processing
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• consult with their academic advisor to determine how withdrawing may affect their enrollment in future semesters
  • NOTE:  The Texas Education Code stipulates that students attending Texas institutions of higher education for the first time fall 2007 and later may not withdraw from more than six courses during their academic career, including courses from which transfer students have withdrawn at other Texas institutions of higher education. (Senate Bill 1231) Rule 4.10.

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Course

RNSG-1301-004 Pharmacology

Prerequisites

Corequisite: RNSG 1309 and RNSG 1105

Course Description

Introduction to the science of pharmacology with emphasis on the actions, interactions, adverse effects and nursing implications of drug classifications. Content includes the roles and responsibilities of the nurse in safe administration of medications within a legal/ethical framework. This course lends itself to either a blocked or integrated approach.

Student Resources Student Resources Website

Department Expectations

Occupational License Disclaimer

Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec, 1 lab)

Class Type

Hybrid

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Pharmacology: a Nursing Process Approach, 8th Edition; 2015 ;(Textbook and Study Guide)

Nursing Math Simplified; 5th Edition, 2012

Davis's Drug Guide for Nurses, 15^th Ed.(2017). Deglin, J.H., Vallerand, A.H., & Sanoski, C.A., F.A. Davis.

Course manual for Pharmacology RNSG 1301, Cannon, J. 2016-2017

Students are required to have regular, reliable access to a computer with a stable Internet connection. (Any system older than 4 years may not have the processing power to work with our current version of Blackboard and its components.)

System Requirements	Minimum	Recommended
Operating System	Windows Vista, 7, or 8 Mac OSX 10.6, 10.7, 10.8, or 10.9	Windows 7 or 8 Mac OSX 10.7, 10.8, or 10.9
Processor	1 GHz processor	2 GHz or faster processor
Memory	512 MB of RAM	2 GB of RAM or higher
Monitor Resolution	1024 x 768	1024 x 768 or higher
Free Hard Disk Space	5 GB of free disk space	20 GB or higher of free space
Internet Connection	Broadband (high-speed) Internet connection with a consistent minimum speed of 1.5 Mbps.	Broadband (high-speed) Internet connection with a speed of 4 Mbps or higher
Internet Browser**	Respondus Lockdown Browser and IE8, IE9, Safari 4+, Chrome or Firefox	Respondus Lockdown Browser and Firefox
Java	Java is required to use Blackboard. Download Java.
Macromedia Flash Player	Flash is required to play videos within the Blackboard system. Download Flash
Device	Computer/Mobile Device (Laptop/Tablet) with Webcam

Supplies

Medication Administration Pack

Additional:

3 ring binder for syllabus

Pens, pencils, and highlighter

 

Student Performance

 

 

MEMBER OF THE PROFESSION

1.         Utilize an ethical-legal framework and applicable professional standards as they relate to the administration of medication in the care of adults and older adults.

2.         Identify own personal strengths and weaknesses in providing medication therapy in relation to professional nursing practice.                    

3.         Develop insight into the parameters and guidelines for quality nursing care to patients and families as it relates to medication administration.

 PROVIDER OF PATIENT-CENTERED CARE

 4.         Function as a beginning nursing student to assist in the promotion, maintenance and restoration of health for patients and families during adulthood and older adulthood through knowledge of the general characteristics of pharmaceutical agents.

5.         Utilize a systematic process and clinical reasoning in understanding the characteristics of selected pharmaceutical agents in providing holistic patient-centered care to adult and older adult patients and families.

6.         Identify unique psychosocial needs of adult and older adult patients and families related to medication administration.

7.         Identify the basic principles of health teaching for patients and families during adulthood and older adulthood in order to comply with medication regimens.

8.         Utilize basic nursing skills for the safe preparation and administration of pharmaceutical agents in the care of adults and older adults.

9.         Develop compassionate behaviors and appropriate communication skills for medication therapy with diverse adults and older adults.

10.       Identify community resources available for meeting the needs of adult and older adult patients and families requiring medication therapy.

 PATIENT SAFETY ADVOCATE

 11.       Identify evidence-based practice data to improve safety and quality of patient care in the preparation and administration of pharmaceutical agents.

12.       Identify professional standards and organizational accreditation requirements for patient safety as it relates to medication administration.

 MEMBER OF THE HEALTHCARE TEAM

 13.       Identify other disciplines that participate in providing holistic patient-centered care to adults and older adults.

14.       Identify appropriate communication skills while interacting with other health care team members in the care of adults and older adults.

15.       Compare how medication delivery systems and pharmaceutical technology can be used in the management of holistic patient-centered care for adults and older adults.

16.       Identify the role of the professional nurse in the management of drug therapy in relation to other health care team members.

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Student Rights and Responsibilities

Log in using the AC Connect Portal

In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

Students are full partners in fostering a classroom environment which is conducive to learning.  In order to assure that all students have the opportunity to gain from time spent in class, unless otherwise approved by the instructor; students are prohibited from engagin in any form of behavior that detracts from the learning experience of fellow students.  Inappropriate behavior in the classroom may result in a request for the offending student to leave class. (See A.D.N. Student Handbook: Professional Conduct, ANA Code of Ethics and Amarillo College Student Rights and Responsibilities)

Grading Criteria

 

The following criteria will be used to determine your grade:

1. A 90-100, B 80-89, C 75-79, D 60-74, F below 60
2. Average of four module exams - 72% of the course grade.
3. Comprehensive final exam - 18% of the course grade
4. Evolve Exam-5%
5. Medication Administration Competency- 5%

Make-up exams must be scheduled with the instructor within one week of the missed exam.

 

Attendance

Regular attendance is necessary for satisfactory achievement.  There it is the responsibility of the student to attend class.  90% attendance of classroom lecture and 100% simulated clinical lab attendance is required.

All students will bring required text book and study guide to class each week.

Calendar

Additional Information

Competency for Medication Administration

All students must complete the Competency Checklist for Medication Administration (located in Course Manual) in order to complete RNSG 1301. If the student is unprepared for Medication Administration on the scheduled test time, it will count as the first attempt and the student cannot achieve higher than a 75 on the skill. If a student scores below 75 on the first attempt, the student must retest to ensure minimal competency; however, the student cannot receive more than a 75 for the skill. Prior to the second attempt for Medication Administration, students will be responsible for self-directed remediation with a faculty member. Students may retake the Competency Checklist for Medication Administration only once each semester. 

Dosage and Solution Exam

All students must achieve 90% on the Dosage and Solution Exam. The Dosage and Solution Exam will consist of ten- question exam. Students may retake the Dosage and Solution Exam only twice each semester. Students who do not achieve 90% or greater on the first scheduled exam and first retake exam will be required to review the questions they missed with the instructor and placed on contract for self-directed remediation. Students who do not achieve 90% or greater by the third attempt will fail RNSG-1301 Pharmacology.