This course is INACTIVE
School
Health and Human Services
Division
Health Careers
Department
Allied Health
Academic Level
Undergraduate
Course Subject
Allied Health
Course Number
120
Course Title
Pharmacology for Allied Health
Credit Hours
3.00
Instructor Contact Hours Per Semester
47.00 (for 15-week classes)
Student Contact Hours Per Semester
47.00 (for 15-week classes)
Grading Method
A-E
Pre-requisites
ENG-131 with a C grade or better
Catalog Course Description
Primarily for students in the health career and/or nursing programs in order to establish a foundation in basic pharmacology. Course presents a rationale for understanding current drug therapy involving the common disorders of the major body systems. Administration and dosage calculations are not components of this course.
Note: AH 100-Medical Terminology or its equivalent is a highly recommended prerequisite for this course.
Goals, Topics, and Objectives
Core Course Topics
- Introduction to Principles of Pharmacology
- Administration of Medications
- Teaching Patients about Drug Therapy
- Anti-Inflammatory Drugs
- Drugs for Pain
- Drugs for Sleep Issues
- Antimicrobial Agents
- Drugs that Affect Urine Output
- Cardiovascular Agents
- Drugs for High Blood Lipids
- Drugs that Affect Blood Clotting
- Drugs for Asthma & Respiratory Disorders
- Drugs for Eye Disorders
- Gastrointestinal Agents
- Drugs Affecting Nervous System Disorders
- Drugs for Endocrine Problems
- Drugs for Diabetes
- Drugs for Cancer Therapy
Core Course Learning Objectives (Separated)
- Define and differentiate the terms pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics.
- Describe and differentiate the terms: toxicity, overdose, adverse drug reactions, adverse effects, drug interactions, idiosyncratic reactions, anaphylactic shock, allergic reaction, tolerance, cumulative effect, synergism, and potentiation.
- Describe the common reasons why drug therapy for children differs from drug therapy for adults.
- Illustrate common life span considerations in teaching patients about their medications.
- Describe the advantages versus disadvantages of the drug administration routes.
- Explain how drugs are named.
- List and describe the essential components of a prescription.
- Describe ways to prevent drug errors.
- Discuss the responsibilities of the health care specialist before and after a drug is administered to a patient.
- Describe the differing types of pain-control drugs.
- List the names, actions, possible side effects, and adverse effects of the commonly prescribed medications for sleep problems.
- Differentiate between analgesic and antipyretic agents.
- List the names, possible side effects, adverse effects and describe actions of the commonly prescribed anti-inflammatory drugs.
- Identify the major types of antibiotics by drug class.
- Explain why antibiotic resistance is so important in health care today.
- List the names, describe actions, list indications, possible side effects, adverse effects of all the classes of antimicrobial agents.
- List the names, describe actions, list possible side effects, and adverse effects of diuretic drug, including the need to monitor patient fluid levels.
- Discuss the intended responses of benign hyperplasia drugs.
- Describe the major categories of antihypertensive medications.
- List the names, describe actions, list possible side effects, and adverse effects of vasodilators and cardiac glycosides.
- Explain how different classes of drugs are used to treat abnormal heart rhythms.
- Discuss the five main types of lipid-lowering drugs.
- Compare and contrast the classes of drugs that affect blood clotting, including anticoagulants and thrombolytics.
- List the names, describe actions, list indications, possible side effects, and adverse effects of drugs for respiratory problems including bronchodilators, mucolytics and anti-inflammatory drugs.
- Describe the proper technique to administer eye drops and eye ointments.
- List and discuss the types of drugs, including names, actions, possible side effects and adverse effects when used to treat gastrointestinal disturbances including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, Peptic Ulcer Disease (PUD) and Gastresophageal Reflux Disease (GERD).
- Compare and contrast the general types and causes of seizures.
- Explain how different classes of drugs are used to treat seizures, Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.
- List the names, describe actions, possible side effects, and adverse effects of drugs for depression and anxiety.
- Discuss the types of drugs used to treat psychosis.
- List the names, describe actions, possible side effects, and adverse effects of drugs for thyroid problems.
- List the names, describe actions, possible side effects, and adverse effects of insulin.
- Discuss the distinguishing features of normal cells from those of benign tumors and cancer cells.
- Discuss the basis for combination chemotherapy for cancer.
Assessment and Requirements
Assessment of Academic Achievement
Student learning will be assessed using a combination of tests, quizzes, assignments and participation.
General Course Requirements and Recommendations
- Instructors (or their designees) reserve the right to require students to provide proper picture identification for test taking, graded papers, projects, or other appropriate purposes.
- HFCC Policy on Academic Dishonesty (Cheating) will be followed in this course.
Texts
To be determined by the School of Health and Human Services.
Approval Dates
Effective Term
Fall 2019