Minimum Course Hours: 30

Course Description

Learners are introduced to pharmacology principles for safe and professional medication administration in a safe and professional manner, including dosage calculations. Learners will study various routes of medication administration. They will also explore complementary, Indigenous, and alternative therapies, as well as polypharmacy across the lifespan. Decision-making strategies, autonomy, responsibilities, and scope of the practical nurse are also discussed.

Prerequisites: Admission to the Practical Nursing Program; completion of Human Anatomy and Physiology for Practical Nurses or equivalent course with a minimum grade of 65%

Corequisites: Professional Communication 1; Integrated Nursing Practice 1; Variations in Health 1; Health Promotion 1; Professional Practice 1

Note: Learners must achieve an 80% average overall on the theory portion of Pharmacology 1 and have three attempts to achieve 100% in math calculations exams to pass the course.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course the learner will be able to:

1. Identify the current British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM) LPN Professional Standards, Practice Standards, and Entry-Level Competencies that define LPN responsibilities and accountabilities in medication administration.
   • 1.1 Explain the LPN’s responsibilities and accountabilities when administering medications within autonomous scope of practice (without an order) and when administering medications with a client-specific order.
   • 1.2 Explain how drug standards and legislation affect medication regulation in Canada.
   • 1.3 Explain the purpose of Canadian drug legislation, including the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and the Food and Drugs Act, and their application to nursing practice.
   • 1.4 Discuss the legal and ethical considerations for the nurse when administering medications.
2. Describe the concepts of pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics.
   • 2.1 Describe the principles of pharmacology as related to common drug actions and interactions.
   • 2.2 Describe commonly used drug classification systems in Canada.
   • 2.3 Identify basic terminology and abbreviations used in pharmacology.
3. Conduct basic mathematical drug calculations correctly.
   • 3.1 Identify common unit conversion factors.
   • 3.2 Discuss the 24-hour clock and why this is important in medication administration.
   • 3.3 Examine the consequences of mathematical errors when calculating drug dosages.
4. Explain the principles of medication administration, including human and system errors that contribute to medication errors or near misses.
   • 4.1 Discuss the nurse’s role when administering medications.
   • 4.2 Identify commonly used drug distribution systems in Canada.
   • 4.3 Discuss types of drug orders.
   • 4.4 Describe the routes of medication administration.
   • 4.5 Review error-prone medication abbreviations.
   • 4.6 Discuss factors that contribute to medication incidents or near misses.
   • 4.7 Identify the process in reporting and managing medication incidents.
5. Identify various classes of medications used to treat specific disorders and illnesses.
   • 5.1 Discuss how drug classifications can be grouped by body systems.
   • 5.2 Discuss the main nursing considerations to treat specific health challenges when administering medication via ophthalmic, otic, topical, and rectal (bowel elimination) routes.
   • 5.3 Identify complementary, Indigenous, and alternative therapies.
   • 5.4 Discuss the implications of using herbal, vitamin, and Indigenous therapies with other medications.

Course Concepts

Course outcomes will be met through examination and exploration of the following:

• BCCNM LPN Professional Standards, Practice Standards, and documents that guide scope of practice
• Introduction to pharmacology
• The practical nurse role and legal responsibilities of medication administration
• Decision making and autonomy in medication administration (e.g., medications “as needed,” medications for asthma, anaphylaxis, and hypoglycemia)
• Pharmacodynamics
• Pharmacokinetics
• Drug actions and interactions
• Drug classifications according to body systems:
  • Adrenergic agents (asthma, COPD)
  • Beta blockers (HTN)
  • Cholinergic agents (symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease)
  • Anticholinergic agents
  • Anti-Parkinson’s agents
  • Cholinesterase inhibitors (symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease)
  • Gastrointestinal medications (used to treat bowel incontinence, constipation)
• Principles of medication administration
• Drug distribution systems
• Basic terminology used in pharmacology
• Nursing process and pharmacology
• Routes of medication administration:
  • Oral
  • Rectal
  • Topical
  • Parenteral
  • Percutaneous
• Introduction to complementary, Indigenous, alternative, and traditional healing therapies
• Vitamin supplements
• Herbal preparations
• Homeopathy
• Basic medication dosage calculations
• Polypharmacy across the lifespan