2013-2014 CATALOG

This is an archived copy of the 2013-2014 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.miracosta.edu

Pharmacology

The Nursing and Allied Health Department offers pharmacology courses as part of the Nursing program.

Contact Information

Department Chair: Julie Vignato

Dean: Sandy Comstock

www.miracosta.edu/PHAR

Department: Nursing and Alllied Health

Office: Building OCT420, 760.795.6796

How to Read Course Descriptions

Courses listed in this catalog apply to the fall 2013, spring 2014, and summer 2014 terms. Courses are numbered numerically within alphabetically arranged subject areas.

The bolded first line begins with a capitalized abbreviation that designates the subject area. This subject-area designator is followed by the official course number and a descriptive title. The next lines indicate the course's unit value; prerequisites, corequisites, advisories, and limitations on enrollment if they exist; CSU/UC credit acceptance; and lecture and lab hours followed by a Taxonomy of Program number in parentheses.

Prerequisites: This is a requirement that must be met before a student can enroll in the course.
Corequisites: This is a course the student must take in the same semester.
Advisories: This is recommended preparation the student is advised but not required to have before or in conjunction with the course.
Enrollment Limitations: Some courses place restrictions on enrollment. Most of these restrictions prevent students from duplicating course work. Others specify something the student must do prior to enrolling in a course, such as audition or obtain special approval. Some enrollment limitations restrict the number of units a student can earn within a group of similar courses.
Acceptable for Credit: CSU means the course is accepted for transfer at any California State University (CSU) campus; UC means it is accepted for transfer at any University of California (UC) campus. Some courses can be used to satisfy general education or major requirements while others transfer as elective credit. UC Credit Limitation means credit for the course may have UC transfer restrictions; these restrictions are identified at the end of the course description.
Lecture and Lab Hours: These are the number of hours the course meets for lecture and/or lab per week.
Taxonomy of Program (TOP) Number: The TOP number is identified in parentheses after the lecture and lab hours. This number serves an administrative purpose and is not intended for student use.

The course description summarizes the purpose and key topical areas of the course, and it includes special requirements if any exist. Some course descriptions end with information about whether the course was "formerly" another course, how many times the course may be repeated, if the course is offered pass/no pass, or what the UC credit limitation is.

Some course descriptions are followed by a C-ID number. The purpose of C-ID numbers is to identify comparable courses within the California community college system. When a course has a C-ID number, students can be assured the course will be accepted in lieu of a course bearing the same C-ID designation at another community college.

How to Read Course Descriptions

Courses

PHAR 100: Basic Pharmacology--Dosages and Calculations

Units: 3
Prerequisites: MATH 20 or eligibility determined by the math placement process.
Acceptable for Credit: CSU
Lecture 3 hours. (1230.20)

This course introduces important concepts, methods, and principles of administering medications. Topics include drug action and drug interaction, drug classifications, terminology, pertinent abbreviations, legalities, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics as well as problem solving for accurate measurement of medications using the apothecary and metric systems, conversion of these systems, ratio, proportion, and other formulas.

PHAR 150: Pathopharmacology I

Units: 2
Prerequisites: Admission into the RN program.
Corequisite: NURS 180 and NURS 181 (ADN).
Acceptable for Credit: CSU
Lecture 2 hours. (1221.00)

This introductory course presents the basic knowledge required for safe, legal, and ethical medication administration including dosage calculation. It emphasizes the nurse's role and individual accountability in pharmacologic therapy. Topics include mechanisms of action, indications, absorption, metabolism, distribution, and elimination in relation to pathophysiology of the cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, integumentary, sensory, and other selected systems. Portions of this course may be presented in an online format.

PHAR 151: Pathopharmacology II

Units: 2
Prerequisites: PHAR 150 (ADN).
Corequisite: NURS 182 and NURS 183 (ADN).
Acceptable for Credit: CSU
Lecture 2 hours. (1221.00)

This course continues the study and application of pharmacological therapy in nursing and emphasizes safety as a primary nursing responsibility. It highlights mechanisms of action, indications, absorption, metabolism, distribution, and elimination in relation to pathophysiology of the reproductive, endocrine, respiratory, immune, and other selected systems. Topics include how growth, development, and cultural factors influence drug therapy. The course emphasizes patient/family education in medication management as well as legal and ethical issues related to medication administration. Portions of this course may be presented in an online format.

PHAR 201: Pharmacology Review & Update

Units: 2
Prerequisites: NURS 280.
Enrollment Limitation: Not open to students with credit in PHAR 151.
Acceptable for Credit: CSU
Lecture 2 hours. (1221.00)

This course reviews pharmacology principles, safe medication administration, and dosage calculations. It emphasizes therapeutic drug use in relation to health problems and updates information regarding drug classifications and prototype agents.

PHAR 292: Internship Studies

Units: 0.5-3
Prerequisites: None
Corequisite: Complete 75 hrs paid or 60 hrs non-paid work per unit.
Enrollment Limitation: Instructor, dept chair, and Career Center approval. May not enroll in any combination of cooperative work experience and/or internship studies concurrently.
Acceptable for Credit: CSU

This course provides students the opportunity to apply the theories and techniques of their discipline in an internship position in a professional setting under the instruction of a faculty-mentor and site supervisor. It introduces students to aspects of the roles and responsibilities of professionals employed in the field of study. Topics include goal-setting, employability skills development, and examination of the world of work as it relates to the student's career plans. Students must develop new learning objectives and/or intern at a new site upon each repetition. Students may not earn more than 16 units in any combination of cooperative work experience (general or occupational) and/or internship studies during community college attendance.

PHAR 299: Occupational Cooperative Work Experience

Units: 1-4
Prerequisites: None
Corequisite: Complete 75 hrs paid or 60 hrs non-paid work per unit.
Enrollment Limitation: Career Center approval. May not enroll in any combination of cooperative work experience and/or internship studies concurrently.
Acceptable for Credit: CSU

Cooperative Work Experience is intended for students who are employed in a job directly related to their major. It allows such students the opportunity to apply the theories and skills of their discipline to their position and to undertake new responsibilities and learn new skills at work. Topics include goal-setting, employability skills development, and examination of the world of work as it relates to the student's career plans. Students may not earn more than 16 units in any combination of cooperative work experience (general or occupational) and/or internship studies during community college attendance.