Pharmacology Course for Nurses

Lesson 1 • Pharmacodynamics: Drug Actions and Effects

Teaches how drugs produce effects at receptor and cellular levels, including dose-response relationships. Connects receptor theory to predicting patient responses.

Lesson 2 • Pharmacokinetics: Drug Movement in the Body

Explains absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) and how each phase affects drug concentration. Links ADME principles to dosing decisions nurses encounter clinically.

Lesson 3 • Legal and Ethical Framework for Drug Use

Outlines regulatory categories, controlled substance handling, and nurses' scope of practice in medication management. Establishes accountability standards applied throughout the course.

Lesson 4 • Introduction to Drug Terminology

Covers essential pharmacological terms including generic vs. brand names, drug schedules, and classification systems. Provides the vocabulary base required for all subsequent chapters.

Lesson 1 • Dosage Calculation and Unit Conversion

Develops mathematical competency for calculating doses, infusion rates, and paediatric weight-based dosing. Directly prevents under- and overdose errors in clinical practice.

Lesson 2 • Routes of Administration Techniques

Covers correct technique for oral, parenteral, topical, and inhalation routes with route-specific safety considerations. Ensures nurses match route to patient condition and drug properties.

Lesson 3 • The Rights of Medication Administration

Defines the ten rights framework and explains how each right prevents a specific category of medication error. Anchors all administration procedures taught in this chapter.

Lesson 4 • Medication Error Prevention and Reporting

Analyses root causes of medication errors and applies system-based strategies to prevent recurrence. Teaches nurses to report near-misses and adverse events using standardised tools.

Lesson 1 • Adrenergic Antagonists in Clinical Practice

Examines alpha and beta blockers used for hypertension, angina, and arrhythmias, with contraindications and monitoring parameters. Prepares nurses to assess for bradycardia and bronchospasm.

Lesson 2 • Autonomic Nervous System Review

Summarises sympathetic and parasympathetic anatomy, neurotransmitters, and receptor subtypes relevant to drug action. Provides the physiological context needed to understand autonomic drugs.

Lesson 3 • Cholinergic Agonists and Antagonists

Reviews muscarinic and nicotinic agents used in urinary retention, glaucoma, and anaesthesia reversal. Teaches nurses to recognise cholinergic toxicity and anticholinergic syndrome.

Lesson 1 • Heart Failure Pharmacotherapy

Examines diuretics, ACE inhibitors, beta blockers, and digoxin used to reduce preload, afterload, and improve contractility. Connects drug mechanisms to symptom relief and mortality reduction.

Lesson 2 • Anticoagulants and Antiplatelet Agents

Covers heparin, warfarin, direct oral anticoagulants, and antiplatelet drugs with monitoring and reversal strategies. Prepares nurses to manage bleeding risk and therapeutic range maintenance.

Lesson 3 • Antiarrhythmic Agents

Classifies antiarrhythmics by Vaughan Williams categories and maps each to specific rhythm disorders. Nurses learn ECG changes to monitor and critical safety thresholds for each class.

Lesson 4 • Diuretics and Renal Drug Considerations

Differentiates loop, thiazide, and potassium-sparing diuretics by site of action and electrolyte effects. Addresses dose adjustments required in renal impairment for renally cleared drugs.

Lesson 1 • Principles of Antimicrobial Therapy

Establishes concepts of spectrum, bactericidal vs. bacteriostatic action, and culture-guided therapy. Provides the decision-making framework applied to all anti-infective drug classes.

Lesson 2 • Antibacterial Drug Classes

Surveys penicillins, cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones, macrolides, and aminoglycosides with mechanisms and nursing implications. Nurses learn allergy cross-reactivity and peak-trough monitoring for aminoglycosides.

Lesson 3 • Antimicrobial Resistance and Stewardship

Explains mechanisms of resistance including beta-lactamase production and efflux pumps, and links them to stewardship practices. Nurses apply de-escalation principles and isolation precautions for resistant organisms.

Lesson 1 • Antipsychotics and Neurological Agents

Examines typical and atypical antipsychotics, antiparkinsonian drugs, and drugs for dementia. Nurses monitor for extrapyramidal symptoms, metabolic syndrome, and neuroleptic malignant syndrome.

Lesson 2 • Antiepileptic Drug Therapy

Compares first- and second-generation antiepileptics by seizure type, therapeutic range, and teratogenic risk. Nurses learn to monitor drug levels and recognise signs of toxicity.

Lesson 3 • Sedatives, Hypnotics, and Anxiolytics

Reviews benzodiazepines, non-benzodiazepine hypnotics, and barbiturates with sedation scale monitoring. Addresses dependence risk, flumazenil reversal, and safe use in elderly patients.

Lesson 4 • Antidepressants and Mood Stabilisers

Covers SSRIs, SNRIs, TCAs, MAOIs, and lithium with onset timelines and safety monitoring. Nurses identify serotonin syndrome, lithium toxicity, and dietary restrictions for MAOIs.

Lesson 1 • Oral and Injectable Antidiabetic Agents

Reviews metformin, sulfonylureas, GLP-1 agonists, SGLT-2 inhibitors, and DPP-4 inhibitors with mechanism and safety profiles. Nurses learn contraindications and patient education priorities for each class.

Lesson 2 • Thyroid and Parathyroid Pharmacology

Covers levothyroxine dosing, antithyroid drugs, and calcium-regulating agents including bisphosphonates. Nurses learn TSH monitoring, thyroid storm management, and hypercalcaemia treatment.

Lesson 3 • Insulin Therapy and Glucose Management

Differentiates insulin types by onset and duration, covers sliding-scale and basal-bolus regimens, and addresses hypoglycaemia management. Directly applicable to daily nursing care of diabetic patients.

Lesson 1 • Geriatric Pharmacology and Polypharmacy

Applies Beers Criteria concepts to identify high-risk drugs in older adults and addresses age-related pharmacokinetic changes. Nurses conduct medication reconciliation and deprescribing assessments.

Lesson 2 • Pharmacology in Pregnancy and Lactation

Reviews teratogenic risk categories, placental drug transfer, and safe drug choices during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Nurses counsel patients on medication risks and document exposure accurately.

Lesson 3 • Paediatric Pharmacology Considerations

Addresses developmental differences in ADME, weight-based dosing, and age-appropriate formulations for neonates through adolescents. Prevents dosing errors unique to the paediatric population.

Lesson 4 • Drug Interactions and Adverse Drug Reactions

Classifies pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic drug interactions and applies clinical decision tools to prevent harm. Nurses identify adverse drug reaction patterns and initiate appropriate nursing responses.