DIPLOMA IN NURSING, YEAR 1.
Lecture content:
General Principles::::: Introduction to Pharmacology; Mechanisms of Drug Action I + II;
Pharmacokinectics: Drug Transport Across Cell Membranes; Drug Absorbtion; Routes of
Administration and Bioavailability; Drug Distribution and Plasma Protein Binding; Drug
Metabolism; Drug Excretion; Drug Dosage at Extremes of Life; Drug Therapy; New
Developments
Drugs Affecting Major Organs/ Systems::::: Drugs Acting on the Heart and Circulation
Lipid Lowering Drugs; Anti-Coagulants; Drugs in Anemia; Drugs Acting on the Respiratory
System; Chemotherapy; Cancer Chemotherapy; Antibacterial Agents I + II; Antiviral Agents;
Antifungal, Antiprotozal and Antihelminthic Drugs;
Drugs Affecting Major Organs/ Systems::::: Drugs Acting on the Gastrointestinal System;
Drugs Acting on the Kidney; Drugs Affecting the Nervous System; Pain Control; Drugs and the
Autonomic Nervous System; Skeletal Neuro-Muscular Blocking Agents;
Central Nervous System::::: Hypnotics and Anxiolytics; Drug Treatment of Depression and
Schizophrenia; Drug Treatmentof Epilepsy, Parkinson's Disease and Alzheimer's Disease; Local
and General Anaesthetics; Special Topics, Drug Interactions and Drug Overdose;
Drugs Affecting Major Organs/Systems::::: Drugs Acting on the Endocrine System;
Immunopharmacology; Drug Interactions; Drugs Affecting the Reproductive System; Special
Topics; Drugs in Pregnancy;
PHARMACOLOGY LECTURES FOR BACHELOR OF NURSING STUDIES.
Introduction to Pharmacology; Mechanism of Drug Action; Antibiotics; Anticancer;
Steroids; Anti-inflammatory; C.N.S./Opiates; Anti-Hypertensives; Drugs Acting on the
Respiratory System; Pharmacokinetics; Drug Interactions; Sample MCQ / Tutorial
HIGHER DIPLOMA IN NURSING STUDIES (Cardiovascular / Diabetes / Accident
& Emergency Nursing): Pharmacology Module:
Reviews:
Pharmacology, 2nd ed (Mycek, Harvey, Champe); Supplementary Texts: Drugs for the
Heart (Opie)
Principles of drug action; Pharmacokinetics; Drugs and the ANS; Drugs and
Cardiovascular System I + II; Diuretic Drugs I + II; Antidiabetic Drugs; Analgesics, NSAIDS;
Corticosteroids; Antibiotics; Anaesthesia;
HIGHER DIPLOMA IN NURSING STUDIES (Cardiovascular Nursing)
Module IX: Biological Sciences Total Hours: 36
UNIT ONE; Pharmacology
This unit aims to provide the student with the opportunity to gain knowledge and
understanding of specified medicines and the nursing implication of their use in patients with
cardiovascular disease/diabetes mellitus.
Learning Outcomes. The student will:
1. Define the three phases of drug action.
2. Describe the processes of pharmacokinetics.
3. Explain the meaning of pharmacodynamics.
4. Become familiar with the methods for correcting lack of or excess of potassium, sodium,
calcium and magnesium.
5. Differentiate between non-narcotic and narcotic analgesia.
6. Outline how drugs that mimic and block sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous
system have opposite and similar effects.
7. Discuss the reasons for ordering peak and trough concentration levels for serum
aminoglycosides.
8. Explore the nursing implications related to the administration of nitrates, alpha and beta
blockers, calcium channel blockers, cardiac glycosides, antianginal and antidysrhythmics.
9. Identify nursing interventions including patient teaching for insulin, oral hypoglycaemics
agents and antianginal agents.
Content:
Introduction to principles of drug action; The pharmaceutic phase, pharmacokinetics and
pharmacodynamics; The therapeutic index and therapeutic range, peak and trough levels, side
effects, adverse reactions and toxic effects of the drugs; Drugs under the autonomic nervous
system sympathominetics (adrenergic agonists); Sympatholytics (adrenergic blockers);
Parasympathomimetics (cholinergics agonists); Parasympatholytics (anticholinergics); Cardiac
glycosides; Antianginal drugs; Antidysrhythmics; Antihypertensive drugs; Angiotensin antagonist
(ace inhibitors); Anticoagulants/Thrombolytics/Antiplatelet Therapy; Antilipemics (lower abnormal
lipids levels); Electrolytes - potassium, sodium, calcium and magnesium; Diuretics (thiazides,
loop, potassium sparing, osmotic diuretics); Antidiabetic drugs, insulin, oral antidiabetic drugs;
Hyperglycemic Agents - glucagon and diazoxide; Corticosteroids, salicylates, non steroidal
anti-inflammatory (aspirin); Antibiotics; Analgesics - morphine and its derivatives and methadone;
Antagonists to morphine; Entonox; Assessment by multiple choice or short questions.