Nursing (NURS) 517 Pharmacotherapeutics and Pathophysiology for Nurse Practitioners II
Introduction
NURS 517 is part of a program of study leading to the Post-Master’s Diploma: Nurse Practitioner, or the Master of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner) degree. NURS 516 is a prerequisite for NURS 517. NURS 517 is a prerequisite course for NURS 522, NURS 524, NURS 526, NURS 527, NURS 528, NURS 530 and NURS 531. NURS 517 can be taken as an elective course by other Master of Nursing or Master of Health Studies students and by non-program students provided they have taken NURS 516. Nursing (NURS) 517 Pharmacotherapeutics and Pathophysiology for Nurse Practitioners II.
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NURS 517 provides students with an integrated approach to pathophysiology and pharmacology that will support clinical decision making about the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic presentations commonly managed by nurse practitioners. The course is comprised of ten units which integrate the pathophysiology of body systems with the pharmacologic agents used in the management of diseases of those body systems. Using a case-based approach students apply what they have learned to clinical scenarios depicting client presentations that students are likely to encounter in their clinical placements and in their practices as entry-level nurse practitioners. Nursing (NURS) 517 Pharmacotherapeutics and Pathophysiology for Nurse Practitioners II.
NURS 517 covers the remainder of the systems not addressed in NURS 516. Together these courses provide foundational knowledge of pharmacology and pathophysiology that will be used to support clinical decision making. The content of NURS 517 is supported by other courses in the Nurse Practitioner program that teach management of common acute and chronic diseases of adult men and women, children, and older adults.
Nursing (NURS) 517 Pharmacotherapeutics and Pathophysiology for Nurse Practitioners II Course Goals
After completing this course, students should be able to:
- describe the basic principles of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, and how these principles may affect prescribing decisions;
- demonstrate an understanding of the selection and use of drugs in the management and treatment of disease, including the application of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics to client clinical context and the integration of client social context (age, health status, gender, concomitant therapies, cultural beliefs, financial status, etc) to the selection of drugs of choice;
- Nursing (NURS) 517 Pharmacotherapeutics and Pathophysiology for Nurse Practitioners II
- identify and incorporate special considerations when prescribing for specific populations: pregnancy, breastfeeding, older adults, children and infants, and genetic factors;
- evaluate and then apply research findings to the development of evidence-based, comprehensive client pharmaceutical plans of care;
- evaluate prescribed drug regimens for safety, clinical efficacy and outcomes, in partnership with the client;
- identify and incorporate strategies to address potential barriers to regimen adherence into client assessment and education;
- integrate knowledge of adverse drug reactions and interactions in safe prescribing and appropriately report adverse drug reactions; Nursing (NURS) 517 Pharmacotherapeutics and Pathophysiology for Nurse Practitioners II.
- understand professional, ethical and legal considerations and responsibilities when prescribing;
- recognize polypharmacy and takes appropriate interventions to optimize therapy; and
- summarize the role of interdisciplinary consultation in optimizing drug therapy.
- explain pathophysiological processes leading to clinical manifestations of common acute and chronic diseases;
- utilize knowledge of pathophysiological processes to inform diagnoses of common acute and chronic diseases; Nursing (NURS) 517 Pharmacotherapeutics and Pathophysiology for Nurse Practitioners II.
- recognize variations of pathophysiological processes in pediatric and geriatric clients; and
- explain factors influencing the incidence and manifestation of diseases in populations.
- articulate how pathophysiological processes influence the selection of tests to diagnose common acute and chronic diseases. Nursing (NURS) 517 Pharmacotherapeutics and Pathophysiology for Nurse Practitioners II.
Nursing (NURS) 517 Pharmacotherapeutics and Pathophysiology for Nurse Practitioners II Course Materials
NURS 517 comprises online content and electronic course materials.
Print Materials
The textbooks listed below are used in this course.
Arcangelo, V.P. & Peterson, A.M. (2017) Pharmacotherapeutics for Advanced Practice: A Practical Approach (4th edition). Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer
McCance, K. & Huether, S. (2019). Pathophysiology: The biologic basis for disease in adults and children (8th ed.). St. Louis: Elsevier Mosby.
Additional Recommended Material
Woo T.M. & Robinson M.V. (2016). Pharmacotherapeutics for Advanced Practice Nurse Prescribers. (4th ed.). Philadelphia: FA Davis
Course Structure
In this course, you will access health-related websites worldwide. You will also participate in email and computer conferencing with other students. Students are expected to connect to an Internet Service Provider at their own expense.
Technical Requirements
Computer System
In order to successfully complete this course, the student must own or have ready access to certain computer hardware and software programs. For complete and up-to-date information on the minimum computer requirements required to complete the graduate nursing courses, visit the Faculty of Health Disciplines technical site.
Students are expected to connect to an Internet Service Provider at their own expense and to secure audio speaker or headphones for the required Clinical Forum events in the course. Nursing (NURS) 517 Pharmacotherapeutics and Pathophysiology for Nurse Practitioners II.
Course Outline
NURS 517 consists of the following 10 units:
- Unit 1: Neurologic Disorders
- Unit 2: Endocrine Disorders
- Unit 3: Immune Disorders
- Unit 4: Musculoskeletal Disorders
- Unit 5: Women’s Health
- Unit 6: Men’s Health
- Unit 7: HEENT
- Unit 8: Cancer
- Unit 9: Review of Anti-infective agents
- Unit 10: Special considerations
Assessment Structure
The assessment structure for NURS 517 – Pharmacotherapeutics and Pathophysiology for Nurse Practitioners II is based on the following course activities, with the percentage weighting of each activity as indicated. Your final grade for the course will be a composite mark based on your performance on these course activities.
| Unit Tests – 4 Tests (12.5% per Test) | 50% |
| Case Studies 2 Case Studies (10% per Case) |
20% |
| Case Discussion Contributor | 10% |
| Problem Based Learning Group Activity | 20% |
| Synchronous Case Studies (2) | Pass/Fail |
| Total | 100% |
In order to pass NURS 517 you must achieve a minimum mark of 65% on problem based Learning group Activities, a minimum mark of 65% on case studies, and a minimum average mark of 70% on the tests. Nursing (NURS) 517 Pharmacotherapeutics and Pathophysiology for Nurse Practitioners II.
Unit Tests
Due Dates: Week 5, Week 7, Week 10, Week 13
Value: 12.5% each
These are online exams consisting of multiple choice questions based on content from units as follows:
- Test 1 covers units 1-2, test 2 covers units 3-4, test 3 covers units 5-7, Test 4 covers units 8-10.
The unit tests must be written during the specified time period. Students who do not write the tests during the specified time period will not be allowed to write the test at a later date and will be awarded a mark of zero on the exam. Nursing (NURS) 517 Pharmacotherapeutics and Pathophysiology for Nurse Practitioners II.
You must attain an average mark of 70% on the unit tests (see below) in order to receive a passing grade for the course. If an average mark less than 70% is received, there will be no option for writing a supplementary exam (ie, there are no rewrites of unit tests allowed).
Case Studies
Value: 20%
Each student will be assigned two case studies during the course (10% EACH), which will be presented on-line. Students are expected to follow a prescribed format in preparing a Powerpoint presentation and will also be expected to moderate an on-line discussion of their case. Nursing (NURS) 517 Pharmacotherapeutics and Pathophysiology for Nurse Practitioners II.
Case Discussion Contributor
Value: 10%
Students are expected to contribute to the case study discussions and must post either an scholarly original post or response in every unit.
Problem Based Learning Group Activities
Value: 20%
Over the duration of the course students will be assigned weekly problem-based learning (PBL) discussion forums. Each group will respond to assigned questions and will be responsible for presenting content related to these questions. Nursing (NURS) 517 Pharmacotherapeutics and Pathophysiology for Nurse Practitioners II.
Synchronous Case Studies
Value: Pass/Fail
There are five synchronous Clinical Seminars utilizing Adobe Connect will occur over the span of the term to discuss specific clinical cases. Students will be provided with clinical cases prior to each seminar, and will be expected to participate in an instructor-led discussion of the case. Students will be required to attend a minimum of TWO Synchronous Clinical Seminars. Nursing (NURS) 517 Pharmacotherapeutics and Pathophysiology for Nurse Practitioners II.