Master Resource Outline

 

Course Title: NRSG 318 Accelerated Pathophysiology Pharmacotherapeutics for Nurses

Credits: 4 (lecture)

Semesters Offered: Fall

 

Course Description: 

This course focuses on the abnormal functioning of human cells, tissues, and organs of selected body systems, the physiological adaptations that occur, and how pharmacotherapeutics can address these pathological or adaptive changes across the lifespan. Integration of pharmacological andpathophysiologic principles will be addressed.  The influences of nutrition, genetics, culture, determinants of health, age related variations, alternative therapies, and environment to selected diseases and on pharmacotherapeutics will be emphasized. Current research in pathophysiology, pharmacotherapeutic and pharmacological management will be considered.

Catalog Course Description:

Abnormal functioning of human cells, tissues, and organs of selected body systems, physiological adaptations, and pharmacotherapeutics are examined to address pathological or adaptive changes across the lifespan.

Course Objectives:

  1. Discuss the epidemiology, etiology,risk factors, physiological adaptations, pharmacologic management, and clinical manifestations of selected disease processes. 
  1. Explain the pharmacotherapeutics of selected drug classifications on selected body systems and disease processes.
  2. Integrate principles of pharmacology and pathophysiology in clinical nursingdecisions across the lifespan.
  3. Examine the influence of nutrition, genetics, culture, determinants of health, age related variations, alternative therapies, and environment to selected diseases and on applicable pharmacotherapeutics. 

Course Learning Outcomes: Upon completing this course, the student will be able to:

  1. Identify clinical manifestations and the underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms for specific disease processes.
  2. Integrate interrelated influences of nutrition, genetics, culture, determinants of health, age related variations, alternative therapies, and environment to selected diseases and on applicable pharmacotherapeutics.
  3. Describe the pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics of commonly used medications and supplements in selected diseases or adaptive processes.
  4. Evaluate key nursing considerations for commonly used medications and supplements.

AACN Competencies

This course introduces:

1.2 Apply theory and research-based knowledge from the arts, humanities, and sciences.

1.3 Demonstrate clinical judgement founded on a broad knowledge base.

2.2 Communicate effectively with patients (individuals, families, and groups.

2.7 Evaluate outcomes of care.

4.2 Integrate best evidence into nursing practice.

5.2 Contribute to a culture of patient safety

5.3 Contribute to a culture of provider and workplace safety

6.3 Use knowledge of nursing and other professions to address the healthcare needs of patients

      and populations.

7.2 Incorporate consideration of cost effectiveness of care.

AACN Threads

    • Cultural Sensitivity
    • Social Determinants of Health
    • Communication
    • Ethics
    • Clinical Judgement

Required Content and Concepts

 Part I. Basic Concepts of Pathophysiology

  1. The cell and tissue biology, cellular environment, genetic basis for disease
    1. Cellular biology
    2. Genes and genetic disease
    3. Altered cell and tissue biology

Part II. Basic Concepts ofPharmacotherapeutics:

  1. Brief history of pharmacology
  2. Principles of pharmacokinetics andpharmacodynamics
  3. Nomenclature, drug classifications
  4. Clinical responses to medications, desired and undesired, across the lifespan
    1. Side, adverse & toxic effects
    2. Drug/food/environment interactions
    3. Contraindications & Precautions
  5. Monitoring - laboratory values and tests
  6. Legal, Ethical, Safety
    1. Scope of practice – responsibilities/accountability/delegation/collaboration
    2. Legislation and regulation
      1. Controlled substances
    3. Contemporary issues – high cost of drug therapy, reporting and decreasing medication errors, polypharmacy, pharmacogenomics.

Part III. Pathophysiology of fluid and electrolytes, acid/base imbalances

  1. Drugs that affect fluid and electrolytes
  2. Treatments of fluid and electrolytes, acid/base imbalances

Part IV. Nervous System

  1. Pain, temperature, and sensory
  2. Concepts of neurologic dysfunction
    1. Alterations in arousal and cognition
    2. Alterations in homeostasis (Increased intracranial pressure-cerebral edema)
    3. Alterations in motor function
  3. CNS disorders’
    1. Cerebrovascular disorders
    2. Infection and inflammation
    3. Trauma
    4. Degenerative disease
    5. Tumors, seizures, encephalopathies
  4. Peripheral Nervous System Drugs
    1. Cholinergic Drugs
      1. muscarinic agonists and antagonists
      2. cholinesterase inhibitors
      3. Neuromuscular blocking agents
    2. Adrenergic Drugs
      1. Adrenergic agonists
      2. Adrenergic antagonists
      3. Indirect-acting antiadrenergic agents
  5. Central Nervous System Drugs
    1. Drugs for Neurodegenerative Disorders
    2. Neurologic Drugs
    3. Drugs for Pain
      1. Local and general anesthetics
      2. Opioid analgesics, opioid antagonists, nonopioid centrally acting analgesics
      3. Other analgesic medications

Part V. The immune system

  1. Pathophysiology of the immune response
    1. Drugs for immune system modulation (vaccines, immunosuppressants, immunomodulators)
  2. Pathophysiology of inflammation
    1. Drugs for inflammation and fever (NSAIDs, acetaminophen, ASA, glucocorticoids)
  3. Pathophysiology of hypersensitivities, infections, and immunodeficiency
    1. Antimicrobial Drugs (antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals)
    2. Immunostimulants, antihistamines
  4. Stress and disease           

Part VI. The endocrine system

  1. Mechanisms of hormonal regulation overview
  2. Endocrine disorders
    1. Hypothalamic-pituitary disorders
    2. Thyroid and parathyroid disorders
    3. Pancreatic disorders
    4. Adrenal disorders
  3. Drugs for Pituitary, thyroid, and adrenal disorders
  4. Drugs for diabetes mellitus

Part VII. The hematologic system

  1. Alterations of erythrocyte function
    1. Anemia

    2. Polycythemia

  2. Alterations in leukocyte function
    1. Infectious mononucleosis
    2. Leukemia
    3. Multiple myeloma
  3. Alteration in lymphoid function
    1. Lymphomas
  4. Platelet dysfunction / Coagulopathies
  5. Drugs for hematopoietic disorders
    1. Erythropoiesis-stimulating drugs
    2. Colony-stimulating factors; platelet enhancers
    3. Drugs to treat anemias – folic acid, vitamin B12, iron

Part VIII. The cardiovascular system

  1. Disorders of arteries and veins
    1. Arteriosclerosis/atherosclerosis
    2. Hypertension
    3. Aneurysm
    4. Thrombus/embolus
    5. Coronary artery disease
    6. Myocardial ischemia/infarction
    7. Peripheral vascular disease
  2. Disorders of the heart wall and structures
    1. Cardiomyopathies
    2. Heart failure
    3. Pericarditis/endocarditis
  3. Conduction abnormalities/dysrhythmias
  4. Shock
  5. Cardiovascular Drugs
    1. Drugs for lipid disorders
    2. Drugs for hypertension
    3. Drugs for heart failure
    4. Drugs for angina pectoris and myocardial infarction
    5. Drugs for shock
    6. Drugs for dysrhythmias
    7. Drugs for coagulation disorders

Part IX. The pulmonary system

  1. Acute respiratory failure
  2. Obstructive pulmonary disease
    1. Asthma
    2. Bronchitis
    3. Emphysema
    4. Cystic fibrosis
  3. Respiratory tract infections
    1. TB
    2. Pneumonia
  4. Pulmonary vascular disease
  5. Lung cancer
  6. Pulmonary Drugs
    1. H1-receptor antagonists and mast cell stabilizers
    2. Intranasal corticosteroids
    3. Decongestants
    4. Antitussives, expectorants, mucolytics
    5. Inhalation treatment – beta-adrenergic agonists, anticholinergic, methylxanthines, corticosteroids, leukotriene modifiers.

Part X. The renal and urologic systems

  1. Urinary tract obstruction / structural abnormalities
  2. Urinary tract infection
  3. Glomerular disorders
  4. Renal failure
  5. Renal Drugs
    1. Diuretics

Part XI. The digestive system

  1. Disorders of the GI tract
    1. Motility disorders
    2. Gastritis
    3. Peptic ulcer disease
    4. Malabsorption syndromes
    5. Inflammatory bowel disease
    6. Infections and obstruction
  2. Disorders of nutrition
    1. Obesity
    2. Anorexia/Bulimia
  3. Disorders of the liver and gall bladder
  4. Cancer
  5. Gastrointestinal Drugs
    1. Antiemetics
    2. Laxatives
    3. Antidiarrheals
    4. Peptic ulcer disease drugs
    5. Inflammatory bowel disease drugs
    6. Weight loss drugs

Part XII. The musculoskeletal and integumentary systems

  1. Musculoskeletal injuries
  2. Metabolic and infectious bone disease
  3. Skeletal muscle disorders
  4. Fibromyalgia
  5. Inflammatory muscle disease
  6. Rheumatoid/osteoarthritis
  7. Muscular dystrophy
  8. Inflammation/infection of the skin
  9. Cancer
  10. Musculoskeletal drugs
    1. Calcium/Vitamin D
    2. Calcitonin
    3. Bisphosphonates
    4. Selective estrogen receptor modulators
    5. Treatment of gout
    6. Treatment of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis
  11. Integumentary drugs
    1. Topical antimicrobials
    2. Scabicides and pediculicides
    3. Acne, rosacea, dermatitis, and psoriasis medications

 

Approved by UAAC: 04/2024

Approved by Faculty: 05/2024