NURS 205:Pharmacology I

Credit Hours: 1
Lecture hours per week: 1
Lab hours per week: 0

Prerequisite(s): Admission to the Nursing Program.
Corequisite(s): NURS 200 , NURS 201 , and NURS 202
This course begins by introducing the first-semester nursing student to pharmacotherapeutics in the nursing field. The process of pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics is explored, including the effect of drugs on pediatric, pregnant, and elderly patients. Safe medication administration principles are taught with regard to cultural and life-span diversity and best current evidence. Measurement requirements, system conversions, oral and parenteral dosage calculations, intravenous fluid therapy, and intravenous fluid flow rates are covered in detail. Nursing implications for drug administration and the use of technology in documentation are emphasized in every unit including an overview of drug label interpretation. Dosage calculation emphasizes the importance of collaboration among team members to effectively, accurately and safely calculate dosages of medications. It includes reading, interpreting and solving calculation problems encountered in the preparation of medication. Enrollment in the 200 Level of Nursing (NURS) courses is limited to those student who have been selected and admitted to the program. Program courses are sequenced by semester and must be taken as a group each semester per program requirements and policies.