VNRS 152: Pharmacology I
Citrus College Course Outline of Record
| Heading | Value |
|---|---|
| Effective Term: | Fall 2023 |
| Credits: | 1 |
| Total Contact Hours: | 18 |
| Lecture Hours : | 18 |
| Lab Hours: | 0 |
| Hours Arranged: | 0 |
| Outside of Class Hours: | 36 |
| Prerequisite: | NRS 100. |
| Transferable to CSU: | No |
| Transferable to UC: | No |
| Grading Method: | Standard Letter |
Catalog Course Description
A beginning course in pharmacology. Elementary use of drug formulas, conversions, and dosage forms. Interpreting medical orders, and reading drug labels by learning common abbreviations; calculating I.V. flow rates is also included. 18 lecture hours.
Course Objectives
- Demonstrate a working knowledge of computation using drug formulas and conversions
- Define safe, ethical and legal principles of basic drug calculation in compliance with the Nurse Practice Act
- Convert from one system of measurement to another.
- Recognize and select appropriate equipment for the administration of medications
- Interpret medical orders by learning and using approved common medical abbreviations
- Read drug labels to calculate accurate dosages
- Calculate pediatric and adult dosages by formula method.
- Identify common IV solutions and rationale for their use.
- Identify correct procedures for monitoring IV infusions and calculating IV flow rates.
Major Course Content
- Math Review for Dosage Calculations
- Systems of Measurement - Metric, Apothecary, Household
- Symbols, Abbreviations
- Conversions between Systems
- Hospital Equipment Used for Dosage Measurements
- Interpretation of Drug Orders, Drug Labels
- Oral and Parenteral and IV Drug Calculations Using Ratio, Proportion, Formula method
- Pediatric, Insulin, Heparin Dosage Calculations - Fried's Rule, Young's Rule, Clark 's Rule, BSA
- Temperature Conversions
- Understanding Medicine cards, medication administration record (MAR), Kardex, electronic medication dispensing systems, and organization of medication carts
Suggested Reading Other Than Required Textbook
Kaplan videos and reading materials.
Examples of Required Writing Assignments
Consulting at least three different resources, expound on the national health care goal of no medication errors at the point of delivery. Include what the nursing profession has done to reduce the number of medication errors at the bedside.
Examples of Outside Assignments
Completion of assignment comparing and contrasting common household items used for measuring such as spoons and droppers. Using these household measuring items with the medical dosages provided to students in the course.
Instruction Type(s)
Lecture, Online Education Lecture