Pharmacology Syllabus for 2025-2026
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Instructor Information

Course Information

AI Statement

Collusion is defined as “the unauthorized collaboration with another person or by any other means, including artificial intelligence (AI) and computer translators, in preparing work for fulfillment of course requirements.” Using AI like (ChatGPT or Google Gemini) to create a document is considered colluding. The use of Generative Artificial Intelligence on specific assignments is at the discretion of the instructor.

Title IX and Sexual Misconduct Reporting

Amarillo College prohibits discrimination and harassment based on sex, including sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking, under Title IX and Texas Education Code §51.253–255. Faculty and staff are mandatory reporters and must share any related concerns with the Title IX Coordinator at titleix@actx.edu. Reports and additional information are available at https://www.actx.edu/hr/title-ixtitle-ix. Confidential counseling and advocacy services are available through the Counseling Center and Advocacy & Resource Center.

Recording Policy

Disability Statement

If you have a disability (learning, mental, physical) that affects your ability to participate effectively and have access to any program or service at Amarillo College please contact Disability Services at (806) 345-5639 . Our offices are located in the Enrollment Center, Suite 700. More information may be found at www.actx.edu/disability.
Disability Services facilitates access to all programs and services according to the ADA, Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, as well as other federal and state laws.

Amarillo College Web Accessibility Policy Statement

Amarillo College is committed to providing equal access to all programs and services, including all working, learning, and service environments that affect equal access for persons with disabilities. This commitment to provide equal access and opportunity for persons with disabilities is in compliance with federal and state law. Amarillo College also strives to provide Electronic and Information Resources (EIR) that are accessible to all authorized users.

If you find you are unable to access material in an accessible format please contact the Disability Services Office at (806) 345-5639 . This office will work in conjunction with other campus resources to address and accommodate your issue in a timely manner.

Statement for Mental Health and Advocacy & Resource Center:

As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce a student's ability to participate in daily activities. Amarillo College offers services to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. If you or someone you know are suffering from any of the aforementioned conditions, you can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus by calling the AC Counseling Center at 806-371-5900. The AC Counseling Center website is https://www.actx.edu/counseling/ . Also, if you are in need of social services (affordable housing, utilities, transportation, food, clothing, childcare, medical/dental/vision, legal), please call the AC Advocacy & Resource Center at 806-371-5439. The AC Advocacy & Resource Center website is https://www.actx.edu/arc

Amarillo College Tutoring for Success Policy:

Tutoring for Success applies to any student whose overall performance in the course falls below 75%. The instructor will create the task in the Student Engagement Portal (Watermark) to direct the student to the appropriate tutoring service, which may be faculty- or SI-led, discipline-specific, and/or general. The tutoring service assigned, the due date for when the tutoring must be completed, and the amount of tutoring required are at the discretion of the instructor. Additionally, the task will alert the student’s success team. Students who do not fulfill the assigned tutoring task may be subject to program- and course-specific penalties that could result in a grade reduction and/or in not being allowed to progress in the course until the tutoring requirement has been satisfied.

Administrative Drop Policy

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

Student Withdrawal Procedures

Students who wish to withdraw from a course must complete all steps indicated on the Academic Withdrawal Request form by the course withdrawal deadline.

NOTE: Students who are 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. This withdrawal limitation does not include dual credit or developmental classes (Senate Bill 1231 Rule 4.10.) For more information on Drop and Withdrawal Policies, please visit the Registrar's Office Web site.

Privacy Statement

The Amarillo College Privacy Policy is found at https://www.actx.edu/-amarillo-college-privacy-notice , and applies to all Amarillo College students.  If you have questions about this privacy statement or you believe that your personal information has been released without your consent, send email to humanresources@actx.edu .

Course

RNSG-1201-002 Pharmacology

Prerequisites

Prerequisites: BIOL 2401, BIOL 2402, ENGL 1031, EDUC 1100, HITT 1205 Pre or Co-req: Any SPCH course Corequisites: RNSG 1216, RNSG 1128, RNSG 1430, RNSG 1161

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

Notice to Students enrolled in an educational program for preparation of issuance of certain occupational licenses:

Students enrolled in an educational program in preparation for obtaining certain occupational licenses are potentially ineligible for such license if the student has been convicted of an offense. For further information, please contact:

Melodie Graves
Justice Involved Advocate
Student Service Center 117
mgraves24@actx.edu
806-371-5995
Make appointment at https://melodiegraves.youcanbook.me

You can also contact the Legal Clinic, or the faculty member in charge of the educational program that you seek to enroll in. The further information you will receive will include notification to you of your right to request a criminal history evaluation letter from the licensing authority in order to clarify your particular situation.

Hours

(2 sem hrs; 1 lec, 4 lab)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Pharmacology A Patient-Centered Nursing Process Approach, McCuistion, DiMaggio, Winton & Yeager. Elsevier. 12th Ed. 2026. (ISBN: 978-0-443-11525-7)

Davis's Drug Guide for Nurses, Vallerand & Sanoski. F.A. Davis. 19th Edition; 2025. (ISBN-13: 978-1-7196-5003-8)

ATI Help and Student Orientation Information: https://www.atitesting.com/login

You must create an account with ATI, then register your code. When you enter your code, you will have all ATI resources available.

Supplies

Medication Administration Pack (Black Pharm Bag)

Student Performance

MEMBER OF THE PROFESSION

1. Utilize a systematic, evidence-based nursing process and clinical reasoning to evaluate and administer pharmacological therapies that minimize patient risk and optimize outcomes in diverse adult and older adult populations.

PROVIDER OF PATIENT-CENTERED CARE

2. Demonstrate foundational knowledge of pharmacological principles—including drug actions, interactions, and adverse effects—and apply this knowledge to provide safe and effective medication therapy to adults and older adults across the lifespan.

PATIENT SAFETY ADVOCATE

3. Identify and integrate legal and ethical standards—including scope of practice, patient rights, and informed consent—into the safe and professional administration of medications to adult and older adult patients.

MEMBER OF THE HEALTHCARE TEAM

4. Collaborate effectively with patients, families, and the interdisciplinary healthcare team to educate, advocate, and coordinate the delivery of holistic, patient-centered pharmacological care for adults and older adults.

Students 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. Module 1 -13%
3. Module 2- 13%
4. Module 3- 13%
5. Module 4- 13%
6. Module 5- 13%
7. ATI Pharmacology Practice Quiz-3%
8. ATI Pharamacolgy Specialty Exam-5%
9. ATI Lab Modules-3%
10. Medication Administration Test-Off-6%
11. Comprehensive final exam - 18% of the course grade

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

Rounding of Grades:
The final course average will be rounded to the tenth place. For example, a course average of 79.50%
would be rounded to a letter grade of B. Additional examples of final course averages rounded to the
tenth place include:
• 74.62% will be rounded to a letter grade of C
• 74.38% will be rounded to a letter grade of D
• 79.77% will be rounded to a letter grade of B
• 79.499% will be rounded to a letter grade of C
• 89.87% will be rounded to a letter grade of A
• 89.478% will be rounded to a letter grade of B
There will be no rounding of individual assignment, quiz, or examination scores earned during a
semester. This includes all didactic (classroom and online) and clinical scores as well as Evolve
Specialty Exam, ATI Specialty Exam scores. For example, a 79.50% Module exam score will not
be rounded to a letter grade of B and a Module Exam score of 79.499% will not be rounded to
79%.

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, electronic device and study guide to class each week.

Calendar

Additional Information

Course Calendar subject to change.

Syllabus subject to change