PHARMACOLOGY FOR NURSES
Part II
Dr. Nasser Abu-El-Noor
2013
بسم اهلل الرحمن الرحيم
The Islamic University
Faculty of Nursing
, Pharmacology For Nurses (2)
Nurs 2307
Prerequisites:
Anatomy and physiology
Teacher
Nasser Abu-El-Noor, R.N., M.S.N, Ph.D
Placement
Semester 4
Credits
The course is made up of 2 credit hours
Course description
The course aims to provide the nursing students the essentials of
pharmacology, with the emphasis on the application of the nursing process, drug
actions, uses, routs of administration, dosages, adverse reactions, contraindications,
nursing implications, and patient and family teaching about specific drugs
information. Antidotes of some commonly known risky drugs and drug reactions are
going to be tackled during the course period.
Course objectives
On completion of this course the student will be able to
1. Accurately perform mathematical calculations when they are necessary to
calculate drug dosages
2. Demonstrate awareness of various nursing responsibilities before, during,
and after drug administration.
3. Apply the nursing process to drug administration
4. Express knowledge of various significant drugs in regard to classifications,
routs, doses, and adverse effects
5. Follow proper nursing implications when administering medications to
patients.
6. Offer the necessary teaching about drug therapy for both patients and their
families
7. Recognize the dangers of medications and handling them with great caution
Teaching Method
Lectures
Discussion
Evaluation
Midterm exam………………………….30%
Quizzes ………………………………..15%
Attendance ………………………..…..05%
Final exam………………….………… 50%
, Expectations
1. Students are expected to attend all lectures, unless if there is an excused
absence. You should at least attend 75% of the lectures. If you will be absent
for more than 25% of the lectures, you will not pass the course.
2. In case if an emergency happens during the midterm exams, you should
provide a written excuse for the professor within one week of the exam time.
If you provide the excuse within one week, it will not be accepted and you
will receive a zero in the course. If your excuse will be accepted, the grade for
that exam will be added to the grade of the final exam.
Course Outlines
1. Cardiac drugs
2. Antihypertensive drugs
3. Antiarrhythmic agents
4. Drugs affecting The Central Nervous system
5. Centrally acting skeletal muscle relaxants
6. Narcotic Analgesics & Antagonists
7. Non-narcotic Analgesics & Antipyretics
8. Antirheumatic & Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Agents
9. Anti-gout Agents
10. Drugs Affecting the Autonomic Nervous system
11. Adrenergic blocking (sympatholytic) Agents
12. Cholinergic Blocking (Parasympatholytic) Drugs
13. Drugs affecting the respiratory system
14. Antihistamines
15. Drugs affecting the G.I.T.
16. Hormones & Hormone Antagonists
17. Oral Contraceptives
18. Diuretics
References
1. Loebl S., et. Al. (1991). The Nurse’s Drug Handbook, sixth edition, Wiley
Medical Publications, New York.
2. Scherer, C. (1988). Introductory Clinical Pharmacology, third edition
Philadelphia, Lippincott
3. Skidmore, L (1993). Mosby’s Nursing Drug Reference, St. Louis C.V.,
Mosby.
, Cardiac drugs
Cardiac glycoside
Cardiac glycosides are the most effective drugs for treatment of C.H.F.
Digitoxins are plant alkaloids.
They increase myocardial contractions, which will increase blood supply to all
organs including the kidneys therefore causing diuresis, which will decrease
the edema.
They are used to treat cardiac arrhythmia because they decrease heart rate.
Action:
They increase the force of myocardial contractions (positive inotropic).
It increases the contractility of the heart muscle by minimizing the movement
of Na+ and K+ ions and increasing the release of Ca++ ions in the myocardial
cells.
It decreases the heart rate due to increase in parasympathetic nervous system
and decrease in the sympathetic tone.
They are primarily excreted through the kidneys.
The initial dose is the larger dose (the loading or digitalizing dose), the
subsequent doses are referred to as (Maintenance doses).
Results:
Decrease in venous pressure.
Coronary dilatation.
Reduce heart size.
Marked diuresis and decreasing edema.
Indications:
1. Congestive heart failure (C.H.F).
2. Cardiac arrhythmia (atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter and sinus tachycardia).
Contraindication:
1. Hypersensitivity.
2. Angina pectoris in absence of CHF.
3. Given with caution for elderly and people who have kidney failure.
Side effects:
1. They are extremely toxic and may cause death.