Mar 28, 2024  
2020-2021 Catalog 
    
2020-2021 Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

MA 217 - Pharmacology


Credit Hours: 2

This course is designed to help students understand their responsibility concerning drugs and to appreciate the necessary limitations imposed upon them. It is a brief introduction to classes of drugs, with an emphasis on the constant advances in drug therapy and includes the history and scope of pharmacology, drug standards and drug legislation, drug sources, administration, action, and use of drugs and basic mathematical principles in calculating the dosages of drugs, and the importance of nutrition and diet in maintaining health.

Course Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

  • Identify general principles of pharmacology, pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics.
  • Identify drug names, sources, forms and actions (including correct abbreviations and terminology).
  • Explain how drugs are used for diagnosis, treatment and prevention.
  • Recognize FDA laws & schedules governing drugs and controlled substances.
  • Understand proper drug administration (both parenteral and non-parenteral routes), storage & record keeping (including the six rights of medication administration).
  • Recognize allergic responses, symptomology, reactions and appropriate intervention/ treatment.
  • Demonstrate proper use of drug reference books, including the PDR.
  • Calculate proper medication doses for adult, pediatric and geriatric populations
  • Analyze nutritional aspects of pharmacology, including the function of dietary supplements and nutrients, including carbohydrates, fat, protein, minerals, electrolytes, vitamins, fiber and water.
  • Explain the importance of nutrition and diet in maintaining health, the importance of vitamins and minerals, and electrolyte balance.
  • Identify the special dietary needs for patient-specific populations for weight control, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, cancer, lactose sensitivity, gluten-free and food allergies while respecting patient concern regarding dietary changes.
  • Demonstrate awareness for patient education with regard to patient-specific dietary needs, drug action, contraindications, adverse reactions and implications for patient care across multiple body systems, including the potential for drug tolerance, substance abuse and/or chemical dependency.


Prerequisites: MT 112, BI 147 and BI 148
F/S (N)

This course is required for the Medical Assisting AAS Degree and 100% of the Psychomotor and Affective competencies need to be passed.

Reminder: Students must obtain a minimum grade of C to pass the course.