Available by appointment
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 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.
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
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.
Students who do not attend class on or prior to the census date will be administratively dropped. Effective Fall, 2016
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.
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 .
VNSG-1231-001 Pharmacology
Prerequisites: BIOL 2401 and HITT 1305 Corequisites: VNSG 1136, VNSG 1138, VNSG 1304, VNSG 1227, VNSG 1423, VNSG 1260 and VNSG 1400
Fundamentals of medications and their diagnostic, therapeutic and curative effects. Including nursing interventions utilizing the nursing process.
Student ResourcesStudent Resources Website
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.
(2 sem hrs; 2 lec, 1 lab)
On Campus Course
Ford, S., (2022). Introductory Clinical Pharmacology (12th ed.). Wolters Kluwer.
PN Pharmacology for Nursing, Assessment Technologies Institute, LLC. All rights reserved.
Computer/Mobile Device (Laptop/Tablet) with Webcam, Maximum size 10.9 inch | ||
System Requirements | Minimum | Recommended |
Operating System | Windows 7, 8, or 10; Mac OSX 10.6, 10.7, 10.8, or 10.9 | Windows 10; Mac OSX 10.7, 10.8, or 10.9 |
Processor | 1 GHz processor | 2 GHz or faster processor |
Memory | 2 GB of RAM | 4 GB of RAM or higher |
Monitor Resolution | 1024 x 768 | 1024 x 768 or higher |
Free Hard Disk Space | 32 GB of free disk space | 64 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 |
Adobe Acrobat Reader DC | Free download @ https://get.adobe.com/reader/ | |
Microsoft Office | Microsoft Office 365 free download @ https://products.office.com/en-us/student/office-in-education | |
Java | Free download @ https://java.com/en/download/ | |
Adobe Shockwave Player | Free download @ https://get.adobe.com/shockwave/ | |
Upon completion of VNSG 1230: Introductory Clinical Pharmacology, the student will:
Function within a directed scope of practice of the beginning nursing student in applying knowledge of the general characteristics of pharmaceutical agents within each drug classification when providing patient care.
Incorporate theoretical concepts such as caring, diversity, health promotion, health restoration, basic human needs, and the principles from biological, psychological, and sociocultural sciences with knowledge of pharmaceutical agents to provide quality nursing care for patients.
Utilize the nursing process and clinical reasoning skills to recite the specific characteristics of selected pharmaceutical agents within each major drug classification.
Apply knowledge of the changes associated with the normal aging process that influences the efficacy of drug therapy to the patient's care throughout the developmental life span.
Identify the basic principles of teaching and learning to assist patients in complying with medication regimens.
Advocate for patients to identify community resources available to individuals requiring medication therapy.
Perform evidence-based practice nursing procedures associated with the safe preparation and administration of pharmaceutical agents.
Recognize appropriate communication skills for interaction with patients and their families and interdisciplinary team members.
Identify current technology /informatics being used in the management of pharmaceutical agents.
Identify the role of the nurse and other health care workers in managing drug therapy for patients in the acute or extended care setting as well as individuals receiving medication therapy within the community.
Demonstrate adherence to ethical and legal standards of practice as they relate to the administration of medications.
Collaborate with interdisciplinary team members in providing medication therapy to individuals throughout the developmental life span.
Identify the effect of nursing research and evidence-based practice on preparing and administering pharmaceutical agents.
Explore the concepts of lifelong learning and practice competency in medication administration.
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".
The Vocational Nursing Program is an adult program. Adult and professional behavior is expected in both the classroom and clinical areas. Cell phones should be turned off while in class, and out of eyesight and off of desktops during lectures. Text messaging is not allowed in the classroom. These devices are disruptive, do not answer calls or texts during class. Should there be a family situation/emergency that requires your attention, please inform your instructor before class. Students are expected to participate in all activities. Assigned reading should be completed with the module, attend lectures to supplement the reading, and complete ATI assignments to be successful.
Students are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner at all times, not only in interaction with patients but also with peers, faculty, and staff. Students represent the Department of Nursing and the nursing profession; thus, students assume responsibilities toward society. These responsibilities are delineated in the National Federation of Licensed Practical Nurses Practice Standards and the American Nurses Association Code of Ethics for Nurses, 2015. The statements of the code and their interpretation provide guidance for nurses’ behavior in relation to carrying out nursing responsibilities within the framework of ethical decision-making.
You may not record class with audio or video recording equipment (phones) without permission; if permission is granted, you agree only to use said recordings for your own personal, educational purposes and will not reproduce, distribute or publicly post the recordings without your instructor’s permission.
Instructors are available for assistance during office hours. Professional communication may be conducted through e-mail or in person.
Family and friends should not visit students in the classroom or clinical area. Because of cross-contamination concerns and the risk of injury, students are not to visit family or friends in other clinical units. This includes any clinical or class time on campus or at clinical partner sites (Sim Central).
Each student will adhere to the Civility Statement, Student Handbook Policies and Procedures, the Amarillo College VN Honor Code Policy, and the Social Networking Policy. Any violation of these policies and procedures may result in failure of the course and possible dismissal from the program.
The following criteria will be used to determine your grade:
Quizzes: 30%
ATI Assignments: 20%
Mid-Term Exam: 10%
Final Exam: 10%
ATI Fundamentals: 10%
Service Learning Project: 10%
Oral Presentation: 10%
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 80%. Additional examples of final course averages rounded to the tenth place include:
There will be no rounding of individual assignments, quizzes, or examination scores earned during a semester. This includes all didactic (classroom and online), clinical scores, the Evolve Specialty Exam, and the ATI Specialty Exam scores. For example, a 79.50% Module exam score will not be rounded to 80%, and a Module Exam score of 79.499% will not be rounded to 79%.
Regular attendance is necessary for satisfactory achievement, and mandated hours are required by the Texas State Board of Nursing. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the student to attend class. 90% attendance of classroom lecture is required. This course is unique, being a hybrid course. Attendance will be assessed by on-time assignment submission and completion of weekly quizzes. Classroom content is 48 hours which allows a student to miss 4.8 hours of classroom content. If more than 4.8 hours of classroom content is missed, students will receive a deduction of 5 points on the upcoming exam and potential failure for the course. Attendance contracts will be given to students who miss class.
CLASS SCHEDULE/OUTLINE: Students will receive a class schedule on the first day of class. This schedule is subject to change.
DISABILITY STATEMENT:
Any student requiring special arrangements to meet course requirements because of a disabling condition should contact DisAbility Services (Phone 371-5639) as soon as possible.
INSTRUCTOR:
Office: Jones Hall 275
Office hours: Posted
Available by appointment
Class days: Wednesday
Clinical Days: Thursday/Friday
Phone: 354-6019
E-mail: Course Mail
REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS:
Ford, S., (2022) Introductory Clinical Pharmacology. (12th ed.) Wolters Kluwer.
PN Pharmacology for Nursing, Assessment Technologies Institute, LLC.
CLASS SCHEDULE/OUTLINE: Students will receive a class schedule on the first day of class. This schedule is subject to change.
GRADE SCALE:
A = 90-100 B = 80-89 C = 75-79 D = 60-74 F = Below 60
GRADING CRITERIA:
The following criteria will be used to determine your grade:
Unit Exams (4 exams): 64%
ATI Exam: 10%
Quizzes: 21%
Assignments: 5%
Must have a 75 average to pass the course and progress to Level 2
Must pass Medication Administration
Percentage of exams will increase in weight throughout the course:
Exam 1: 7%
Exam 2: 13%
Exam 3: 19%
Exam 4: 25%
This course requires six (16) hours of lab and clinical. Failure to complete and document the 16 hours will fail in the course.
Activities that qualify include:
ATI: Time that students are logged in to ATI working on skills modules.
PrepU: Time that students are logged into CoursePoint working on assignments.
Skills Practice: Time spent in the NRC to practice skills.
Active learning activities
Other activities as designated by the instructor.
Students must do their work. There may be no sharing of answers for either of these programs. Cheating in any form will not be tolerated and may result in course failure. All unit assignments must be completed by the due date scheduled by the instructor. If not completed by the closing date listed on the lab sheet and/or the date given to you by the instructor, you will receive a zero for that specific unit. A mastery level of 5 is required for PrepU to receive credit. The grade earned on ATI units will be the grade recorded. A minimum of 30 minutes should be spent on all ATI & PrepU assignments to benefit from the content and receive credit.
Students are required to do their work. There may be no sharing of answers for ATI or PrepU. Students are not to write down questions or answers for either of these programs. Students may not take screenshots of any questions for either of these programs. Any cheating will not be tolerated and can result in course failure.
If there are problems accessing and/or working within PrepU or ATI, the student must contact PrepU or ATI helpdesk. It is the student’s responsibility to inform the instructor before the due date, explain the problem, and include the ticket number given by the helpdesk. Technical difficulties will not result in an extended due date if the student waits until the day before the due date to begin working on the assignment.
COURSE WORK
To succeed in this course, there will be required assignments. Assignments must be hand-written (unless otherwise specified) and submitted to the appropriate drop box in Blackboard. Typed assignments will not be accepted unless specified. Typed assignments must be compatible with Microsoft Office (Microsoft Word, etc.). Any submission incompatible with the campus computer system will not be accepted, resulting in a zero for the assignment.
If assignments are not completed by the closing date, you will receive a zero for that specific assignment. Students will be provided with a list of required ATI and PrepU assignments. To receive credit, the student must achieve a 90% on all ATI assignments and mastery level 5 on PrepU. Students must spend at least 30 minutes per module to receive full benefits from these modules. Insufficient time will not receive credit.
PARTICIPATION
There will be active learning activities in class. Participation is required. Active learning may include group work. These activities are structured to provide a deeper understanding of the material and gain experience with collaboration. Collaboration is a necessary skill for nurses to provide safe care.
Plagiarism is defined as the use of someone else’s exact word(s) that are neither quoted nor cited, paraphrasing someone else’s words without citing them, or citing someone else’s research without citing it.
Copying any part of another student’s work and submitting it as original work is plagiarism.
Plagiarism may receive a penalty of zero.
There will be quizzes to enhance skills and related material learning throughout the course. Quizzes will be completed during class time; there will be no makeup for absences. If all quizzes are completed, the lowest quiz grade will be dropped.
Tests are computerized and will be taken in the nursing testing center. Tests will begin on time; if students are late, they will not be allowed to enter and test. When entering the testing center, do so quietly and respectfully; after the test, you cannot linger in or near the testing center. Also, students should never discuss the test, test questions, or otherwise with each other. This is a violation of Amarillo College and is considered cheating. Cheating in any form will not be tolerated and may result in course failure. Measures are taken to avoid the opportunity of cheating:
No cell phones or smart watches are allowed in the testing room
Students should use the bathroom before the exam. If the student leaves the room during the test, the test will be stopped, and the grade they earned will be recorded.
Instructors may screen for cheating opportunities before and during the exams.
Make-up tests may be essay/short answer questions and must be taken within one week of the scheduled test. It is the student's responsibility to schedule the make-up test. Failure to schedule the make-up exam within one week may result in a grade of 0. Make-up exams may result in a deduction of five (5) points (this will be at the instructor's discretion). Failure to notify the instructor before a missed exam may result in a grade of 0 for that exam.
No jackets, long sleeves, hoodies, or multiple layers are allowed in the testing rooms during the test. Students wearing long sleeves will be asked to keep the arm sleeves up and pull them up to the elbows for test security.
The West Campus Tutoring Center is located in Building D. The center is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. The telephone number is 354-6020. The Tutoring Center is open to all nursing students. Any student may schedule an appointment at the center regardless of their academic progress in a course.
Students who do not achieve a minimum passing score of at least 75% on an exam must meet with the instructor and/or a tutor before the next scheduled exam. Remediation is required to help students improve their critical thinking, clinical reasoning skills, and test-taking techniques. Both the course syllabus and student contract include this requirement. Students not completing the required tutoring will receive a 5-point deduction on the exam. The next exam cannot be completed until this requirement is met.
Students may also be required to complete a Required Remediation Assignment before taking the next exam. The instructor will notify the student of the assignment and its due date. The next exam cannot be completed until this requirement is met.
ATI assessments will be done throughout the semester. These assessments establish readiness for the National Council Licensing Examination (NCLEX). All students will be required to complete the focused review based on the results of these assessments.
The Focused Review must be completed by the due date listed on the respective course calendar(s) in which the student is enrolled. If the focused review is not completed, the student will not be allowed to sit for the final exam and receive a grade of zero (0). Please see the ATI grading and focused review requirement table below:
ATI GRADING TABLE/Focused Review Time:
Level | Conversion Score (%) | Focused Review Time |
|---|---|---|
Level 3 | 100 | 1 hour |
Level 2 | 88 | 2 hours |
Level 1 | 75 | 3 hours |
Below Level 1 | 65 | 4 hours |
COURSE SCHEDULE: Students will receive a class schedule on the first day of class. SYLLABUS STATEMENT:Notice to Students enrolled in an educational program for the 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 licenses if the student has been convicted of an offense. For further information, please contact your advisor, the legal clinic, or the faculty member in charge of the educational program you seek to enroll in. The further information you will receive will include notification of your right to request a criminal history evaluation letter from the licensing authority to clarify your situation. Anything not covered in this course manual can be found in the Vocational Nursing Student Handbook and/or the corresponding Online Course Syllabus. COURSE OBJECTIVES: The Student will:
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TEXAS BOARD OF NURSING DIFFERENTIATED ESSENTIAL COMPETENCIES (DECS)
I. Member of the Profession:
A. Function within the nurse’s legal scope of practice and by the policies and procedures of the employing health care institution or practice setting.
B. Assume responsibility and accountability for the quality of nursing care provided to patients and their families.
C. Contribute to activities that promote the development and practice of vocational nursing.
D. Demonstrate responsibility for continued competence in nursing practice, and develop insight through reflection, self-analysis, self-care, and lifelong learning.
II. Provider of Patient-Centered Care:
A. Use clinical reasoning and established evidence-based policies as the basis for decision-making in nursing practice.
B. Assist in determining the physical and mental health status, needs, and preferences of culturally, ethnically, and socially diverse patients and their families based on the interpretation of health-related data.
C. Report data to assist in identifying problems and formulating goals/ outcomes and patient-centered care plans in collaboration with patients, their families, and the interdisciplinary health care team.
D. Provide safe, compassionate, basic nursing care to assigned patients with predictable health care needs through a supervised, directed scope of practice.
E. Implement aspects of the plan of care within legal, ethical, and regulatory parameters and in consideration of patient factors.
F. Identify and report alterations in patient responses to therapeutic interventions compared to expected outcomes.
G. Implement teaching plans for patients and their families with common health problems and well-defined health learning needs.
H. Assist in coordinating human, information, and material resources in providing care for assigned patients and their families.
III. Patient Safety Advocate:
A. Demonstrate knowledge of the Texas Nursing Practice Act and the Texas Board of Nursing Rules that emphasize safety, as well as all federal, state, and local government and accreditation organization safety requirements and standards.
B. Implement measures to promote quality and a safe environment for patients, self, and others.
C. Assist in the formulation of goals and outcomes to reduce patient risks.
D. Obtain instruction, supervision, or training when implementing nursing procedures or practices.
E. Comply with mandatory reporting requirements of the Texas Nursing Practice Act.
F. Accept and make assignments that consider patient safety and organizational policy.
IV. Member of the Healthcare Team:
A. Communicate and collaborate with patients, their families, and the interdisciplinary health care team to assist in the planning, delivering, and coordinating patient-centered care to assigned patients.
B. Participate as an advocate in activities that focus on improving the health care of patients and their families.
C. Participate in identifying patient needs for referral to resources that facilitate continuity of care and ensure confidentiality.
D. Communicate and collaborate in a timely manner with members of the interdisciplinary healthcare team to promote and maintain the optimal health status of patients and their families.
E. Communicate patient data using technology to support decision-making to improve patient care.
F. Assign nursing care to LVNs or unlicensed personnel based upon an analysis of patient or unit needs.
G. Supervise nursing care provided by others for whom the nurse is responsible.
Adopted - 10/2010, reviewed 4/2016, reviewed 2018, reviewed 2019, reviewed 2024
PROGRAM CONCEPTS
A. Advocate
B. Caring
C. Communication
D. Clinical Reasoning
E. Collaboration
F. Diversity
G. Developmental Lifespan
H. Ethical Practice
I. Evidenced-Based Practice
J. Fiscal Accountability
K. Health Maintenance/Promotion
L. Health Restoration
M. Informatics/Technology
N. Lifelong Learning
O. Quality
P. Safety
Q. Practice Competency
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