General Study Tips

  • Review Materials: Read/Review the following resources:
    • Course Textbook
    • PowerPoints
    • Study Guide accompanying your textbook
    • ATI Pharm Textbook
    • Drug Templates from assignments
    • NCLEX-style practice questions on weekly topics
    • Pharm Made Easy Assignments (multiple reviews encouraged)

Course Textbook Chapters

Chapter 1: Clinical Judgment Management Model and the Nursing Process
  • Next Generation NCLEX (NGN):
    • Understand the primary changes in NGN.
  • Concept in Patient Care:
    • Explain how concepts relate to the nursing process and patient care.
  • Nursing Process Steps:
    • Describe each step and its relation to Clinical Judgment Management Model (CJMM).
  • Cognitive Skills:
    • Define the six cognitive skills in CJMM.
  • Patient-Centered Outcomes:
    • Develop outcomes that focus on the patient.
  • Health Teaching Principles:
    • Discuss at least eight principles regarding drug therapy.
  • Nurse’s Role:
    • Define responsibilities related to medication administration planning.
Chapter 2: Drug Development and Ethical Considerations
  • Core Ethical Principles:
    • Identify the three core principles (respect for persons, beneficence, justice).
  • Informed Consent:
    • Discuss how ethical principles govern informed consent and risk-benefit ratios.
  • ANA Code of Ethics (2015):
    • Explain the nine provisions outlined in this code.
  • Phases of Clinical Experimentation:
    • Outline objectives for each phase.
  • Federal Legislation:
    • Discuss acts related to FDA drug approvals and regulations.
  • Drug Naming:
    • Differentiate between chemical, generic, and brand names; define "over the counter".
Chapter 3: Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics
  • Drug Action Phases:
    • Differentiate the three phases of drug action.
  • Pharmacokinetics Processes:
    • Describe four processes: absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion.
  • Receptor Families:
    • Identify four receptor families.
  • Protein Binding:
    • Influence on drug bioavailability.
  • Drug Interactions:
    • Differentiate the four types of interactions and explain the mechanisms involved.
  • Nursing Implications:
    • Discuss nursing implications of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.
Chapter 4: Pharmacogenetics
  • Terminology:
    • Define key pharmacogenetic terms.
  • Nurse as Advocate:
    • Discuss this role in relation to pharmacogenetics.
  • Biologic Variations:
    • Anticipate unique drug responses based on these variations.
Chapter 5: Complementary and Alternative Therapies
  • Important Points:
    • Discuss five associated points with alternative medicine.
  • Common Herbs:
    • Compare six herbs and their toxicities.
  • Nursing Implications:
    • Address nursing responsibilities related to herbal products.
Chapter 6: Pediatric Considerations
  • Pharmacological Principles:
    • Apply pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics specific to pediatrics.
Chapter 7: Drug Therapy in Older Adults
  • Physiological Changes:
    • Effects of aging on drug therapy and adherence issues.
  • Beers Criteria:
    • Utilization for improving care in older adults.
Chapter 9: Safety and Quality
  • Medication Administration Rights:
    • Describe key rights to ensure safety.
  • Culture of Safety:
    • Discuss initiatives like "To Err Is Human" and their implications.
Chapter 10: Drug Administration
  • Routes:
    • Identify different drug administration routes and related techniques.

Exam Topics Overview

Exam 2
  • Chapters on Adrenergic Agonists and Antagonists, Cholinergic Agonists and Antagonists, Stimulants, Depressants, Antiseizure Drugs, and Drugs for Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.
Exam 3
  • Emphasizes Anti-inflammatories, Analgesics, Antipsychotics, Antidepressants, and substance use disorders.
Exam 4
  • Focus on cardiac glycosides, antihypertensives, anticoagulants, and related therapeutic processes.
Final Exam
  • Comprehensive from all prior weeks, including all chapter and ATI materials covered.