NUR1140C - Pharmacology

Director of Nursing Contact Information

OFFICE: WSC103   PHONE: (863) 292-3769

Polk State College Mission and Program Outcomes

Polk State College, a quality driven institution, transforms lives through the power of education by providing access to affordable associate and baccalaureate degrees, career certificates, and workforce employment programs, delivered by diverse, qualified faculty and staff. In line with this purpose, Polk State’s Associate in Science and baccalaureate degree programs develop competence in various career-related skills. This course focuses on the development of competencies related to the following program outcomes:

1. Function effectively as a provider of care who uses critical thinking and the nursing process to provide safe and competent evidenced-based care across healthcare settings.
2. Function effectively as a coordinator of care who demonstrates leadership and uses effective delegation and management strategies to promote positive patient outcomes.      
3. Function effectively as a member within the discipline of nursing who practices with integrity within the ethical, legal, and regulatory framework of professional nursing and models professional behavior including advocacy for the healthcare organization and the profession. 
4. Interact with others as an effective, collaborative team member in providing holistic care that respects the patient as a unique human being who is a member of a family, a community, and a society.
5. Exhibit competent clinical decision making and safe performance of skills in implementing a patient-centered plan of care directed toward restoring, maintaining, or promoting the patient’s optimal health status.
6. Serve as an advocate for patients and families in promoting actions which provide for physical, psychological, sociological, cultural, and spiritual comfort and safety.
7. Exhibit a spirit of inquiry which promotes participation in evidence-based practice, quality improvement processes, and research activities leading to quality patient outcomes and system effectiveness.

 
Course Objectives:
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate critical thinking and use of the nursing process to provide safe and competent evidence-based care in the pharmacologic management of patients in a variety of healthcare settings.
2. Promote positive patient outcomes through effective coordination of care, leadership, delegation, and management strategies related to pharmacotherapeutics.
3. Function effectively as a member of the profession within the discipline of nursing who practices with integrity within the ethical, legal, and regulatory framework of research and development, manufacturing, marketing and distribution, and administration of medications.
4. Interact with others as an effective, collaborative team member in providing holistic care that respects the patient as a unique human being who is a member of a family, community, and society when evaluating the efficacy and appropriateness of pharmacologic management of patients.
5. Implement a patient-centered plan of care directed toward restoring, maintaining, or promoting a patient’s optimal health status through competent clinical decision making related to pharmacologic management and safe performance of drug dosage calculations to include:
   1. Convert units of drug dosage within the same system and from one system to another.
   2. Measure appropriate volume of medication to be administered in syringes, medicine cups, and droppers.
   3. Calculate the amount of oral medication to be administered.
   4. Calculate the amount of parenteral medication to be delivered.
   5. Calculate the safe dosage range of medication based on body weight or body surface area.
   6. Convert IV flow rates from mL/hr to gtt/min and from gtt/min to mL/hr.
   7. Calculate flow rates in mL/hr and gtt/min.
   8. Calculate IV infusion times.
   9. Calculate IV flow rates in gtt/min or mL/hr based on medication dose rates.
   10. Calculate IV medication dose rate based on flow rate in gtt/min or mL/hr.
6. Serve as an advocate for patients and families in promoting actions which provide for physical, psychological, sociological, cultural, and spiritual comfort and safety.
7. Exhibit a spirit of inquiry which promotes participation in evidence-based practice, quality improvement processes, and research activities related to pharmacotheruapeutics, which leads to quality patient outcomes and system effectiveness.

• Uses, actions, side effects, toxic effects of prototype drugs in the major drug classifications.
• Patient education needs relative to medications
• Nursing assessments and judgements relative to safe medication administration
• Calculation of medication dosages

Textbook and Other Requirements

Textbook information is provided in the course syllabus, at the campus bookstore, on the campus bookstore website (www.polk.bncollege.com), or via the “Shop Textbooks” button on the PASSPORT schedule of classes.

College-Level Communication and Computation Skills

State Rule 6A-10.030 does not apply to this course.

Student Help

The professor is available for help during posted hours and by appointment during other non-class hours. Each student is encouraged to seek assistance from the professor. To further the educational process, the Learning Resources Centers, comprised of the campus Teaching/Learning and Computing Centers (TLCCs), JDA Student Success Center, and campus libraries, are available for student use. Each resource provides qualified staff and up-to-date equipment and facilities to promote academic success. The TLCCs and JDA Student Success Center provide tutoring services, computing resources, and other instructional support. The library provides information resources, individual and group study space, research assistance, information literacy instruction, and computing resources. Each facility provides free wireless access to the Internet. The Polk State College Library, Student Success Center, and TLCC hours of operation and tutoring schedules are posted at each facility and on the College website.

Withdrawing From a Course

A student may officially withdraw from a course during any given term, provided he or she follows the appropriate policy and procedure. Following the conclusion of the Drop period, students may officially withdraw without receiving a grade from any course, provided they do so no later than the published withdrawal deadline. The published deadline reflects approximately (but no more than) 70% of the term, based upon the course’s scheduled duration. It is the student’s responsibility to submit these withdrawal forms; failure to do so may result in a grade of F in the course. Under the Forgiveness Policy, a student is allowed only three attempts in any one course: one initial enrollment and two repeats. A student is not allowed to withdraw from a third course attempt. Limited admission programs may have specific guidelines regarding course withdrawal that vary from this policy; these guidelines are listed in the specific program handbooks. If a student stops attending class, the grade earned, usually an F, is assigned and posted. Prior to withdrawing from a course, the student should consult with the Financial Aid Office to determine what impact, if any, withdrawal from the course will have on his or her financial aid status. A student cannot use course withdrawal to avoid academic dishonesty penalties. A student who has been penalized for academic dishonesty in a course is not eligible to withdraw from the course.

Repeating a Course

Under the Forgiveness Policy, a student is allowed only three attempts in any one college credit course: one initial enrollment and two repeats. Under certain circumstances, a student may petition to repeat a credit course beyond the third attempt. Limited admission programs may have specific guidelines regarding repeating courses that vary from this policy; these guidelines are listed in the specific handbooks. The student should be aware that repeating a course may result in a higher course cost. A course cannot be repeated unless the previously earned grade is a D, F, or W (the Polk State Catalog provides further details regarding this process). Prior to repeating a course, the student should consult with the Financial Aid Office to determine what impact, if any, repeating the course will have on his or her financial aid status.

Academic Dishonesty

Each student is responsible for his or her work. It is assumed that each student is honest and will abide by this standard; however, in the event that there is an indication or suspicion of cheating or plagiarism, the situation shall be dealt with in accordance with the published College policy. Copies of this policy are available in the Student Services Office. More specific information can be found in the Course Syllabus.

Information Technology Access/Use Policy

The information technology resources provided by Polk State College (this includes, but is not limited to, telephones, computers, the Polk State Local Area and Wide Area Networks, and the Internet) must be used for academic purposes only. Use of these resources is a privilege, not a right. Inappropriate use can result in revocation or suspension of this privilege.

Equal Access/Opportunity

Polk State College is an equal access/equal opportunity institution committed to excellence through diversity in education and employment. The College complies with all state and federal laws granting rights to students, employees, and applicants for employment or admission to the College. Polk State College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, sex, age, religion, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, genetic information, disability, or pregnancy in its programs, activities, or employment.

The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:
Valparisa Baker
Director, Equity and Diversity (Title IX Coordinator)
999 Avenue H NE
Winter Haven, FL 33881
Office: WAD 227
Telephone: (863) 292-3602
e-mail: vbaker@polk.edu

Equal Opportunity For Students With Disabilities

The College complies with The Americans with Disabilities Act and provides equal educational opportunity for qualified individuals. A student with a disability who requires special accommodations or auxiliary aids under The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) should contact the Coordinator or Director of Disability Services. Note: Limited admission programs may have performance restrictions that apply. Restrictions (where applicable) are outlined in each program’s student handbook.

• Per Department of Nursing policy, any enrollment in a course after the add/drop date is counted as a course attempt. A student may have no more than two attempts in any NUR course.  Only one repeat of a clinical course in the program is allowed-i.e. the second failure of the same course or a failure of a second clinical course will result in the student being ineligible to continue in the program.  
• There are specific department policies regarding attendance, professional standards and expectations, dress code, testing, assignments, health requirements, and other topics. Refer to the Department of Nursing Policy and Requirements Manual for a complete description of Department policies.

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