ST160 Pharmacology (4 cr.)

Students review basic math skills and learn a framework of pharmacological principles in order to apply them in the surgical environment. Commonly used medication with surgical applications are reviewed in depth including antibiotics, diagnostic agents, diuretics, drugs affecting the gastrointestinal system, hormones, drugs that affect coagulation, ophthalmic agents, preoperative medications anesthesia agents for general and regional techniques. Specific topics include basic math with emphasis on the metric system, percentages, and proportions; basic pharmacological principles, including pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics; drug administration routes and methods; blood and fluid usage; drug reactions, including malignant hyperthermia; and, allergic reactions.

Upon completion of this course, students are expected to be able to do the following:

1. Demonstrate competence in using the metric system as applied to the science of pharmacology including measurement and weights, fractions and decimals, ratios and proportions, temperature measurement, liquid and solid calculations, and conversion values between measurement systems.
2. Describe basic pharmacological principles of drug action and effect in terms of the pharmocodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties of a drug.
3. Demonstrate the safe practice of drug identification, preparation, and administration within the surgical environment.
4. Describe the legal requirements of drug preparation and administration within the surgical environment.
5. Describe the action, uses, and modes of administration and side effects of drugs used in the care of the surgical patient.
6. Describe the action, uses, modes of administration, and untoward effects of anesthetic and adjunctive agents used in the care of the surgical patient.
7. Describe the legal aspects and safety factors related to blood and fluid therapy.