Advanced Pharmacology

Catalog description

This course will be the foundation for the advanced practice nurse to make appropriate decisions regarding the pharmacological management of patients in clinical practice. Pharmacological principles, including pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, mechanisms of adverse drug reactions, and contraindications will be discussed. Legal requirements for writing prescriptions and the format for prescriptions as well as common sources of medication errors and methods to prevent them will be described. Developmental considerations, socioeconomic status, and complementary therapies will be addressed throughout the course. Pharmacotherapy of selected common disorders will be addressed. Students will synthesize and integrate diverse viewpoints, principles, and selected research findings related to the complex needs of patients via case study analyses. This course, along with clinical courses, will prepare the advanced practice nurse for prescriptive authority.