Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Pharmacology and Therapeutic Interventions (Face-to-Face)

NURS 3220-01

Course: NURS 3220-01
Credits: 4
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: NURS
CRN: 32853

Course Description

This course examines the pharmacotherapeutic agents and complementary interventions used in the treatment of illness as well as the promotion, restoration and maintenance of health and wellness. Emphasis will be placed on the nursing process as it relates to concepts of safe medication administration, monitoring and effectiveness.

Credit hours: Four (four classroom hours per week).

Prerequisites: Acceptance into the nursing program and completion of all Level One courses.

Required Texts

  • Pharmacology for Nursing, Review Module, ATI.
  • Pharmacology Made Easy 5.0 Product ID: CDN009434727

Learning Outcomes

A list of learning objectives and specific outcomes for this course appears below. You will demonstrate your understanding on assignments and exams. Use the feedback from these experiences to improve your understanding of the topics covered in this course.

  • Identify the roles of the professional nurse in relation to medication administration monitoring and education.
  • Describe the nurse’s legal and ethical responsibilities with regards to medication administration and management
  • Describe characteristics of major medication classifications used in the treatment of commonly occurring diseases in terms of uses, mechanism of action, drug effects, therapeutic uses, side effects, adverse effects, toxicity, and interactions.
  • Apply pharmacological principles into clinical decision-making.

Course Requirements

Grading

Professional Conduct & Participation 10%
Assignments 20%
Quizzes 20%
Exams 20%
ATI testing (Includes both ATI #1 (10%) and Final exam (15%) 25%
ATI Practice Tests and Tickets 5%

Grading Scale

Grades are determined in accordance with the policy of the Department of Nursing. The grading scale is as follows:
94-100% = A 77-79% = C+
90-93% = A- 74 -76% = C
87-89% = B+ Any grade below 74%
84 -86% = B constitutes failure of the
80-83% = B- course

Passing Grade

A cumulative score of 74% or higher is needed to successfully complete nursing courses with a passing grade.
Failure to meet the performance criteria for the N3220 course will constitute failure of this course and will result in an “F” regardless of grades on theory assessment and validation activities. For policies regarding incomplete or withdrawal, please refer to the current university catalog.

Description of Graded Assignments

ATI Pharmacology Made Easy 5.0 modules
These interactive tutorials help you to review medications and principles learned in class. Each module focuses on drugs that relate to a body system. Complete the entire module, including the case study, activities, and the lesson test at the end. Your test result does not affect your score for the assignment. If you have completed the module and taken the test, you will receive full points for the assignment. I will be monitoring how much time your report states you spent on the module, however the time listed on each module is suggested by ATI and you do not need to spend that much time on each one to get credit. Please do not rush through these activities. I highly suggest that you complete and turn in these modules before the class period in which we will be learning about them.
ATI Active Learning Templates
Submit completed Active Learning Templates for all prototype medications listed in the assignment. Failure to submit any required ALTs (or if I determine that an ALT is insufficiently complete), the score will be reduced. Example: if four ALTs are assigned and student submits three of them, student’s score will be reduced by 25%. ALTs need to be handwritten. You may use a different template or flashcard to submit this assignment, however any template needs to include the following: action, use, adverse reactions, contraindications/precautions/interactions, nursing interventions, evaluation.
ATI practice Tests
Students will complete the ATI Learning RN practice and final test under the Learning RN tab in ATI. Students may take these exams as many times as they would like. The score submitted out of 100 is the score that will be recorded in the grade. These are open at the beginning of the semester; you may start them at any time.
ATI Ticket In
You must get a 90% on your ticket to the exam. You must turn in the practice exam labeled “A” for the first ATI and the one labeled “B” for the second exam. You will receive 100 points for turning in an exam with >90%. This test will only allow you to take it once every 24 hours. Pay attention to the due dates. For my class they are typically due 48-72 hours prior to the exam, not the day of. If the ticket in is not turned in by the due date you will receive a 0 on the exam. You may have the time between the due date and the exam to complete the ticket to still be able to take the exam but will not be given a grade for the ticket. These are open at the beginning of the semester; you may start them at any time
ATI exams
Two ATI exams will be given. They are comprehensive. See information in ATI section of the grading section above.
Quizzes
Several quizzes will be given to gauge student progress as well as give students exposure to the NCLEX style questions that will be asked on the class and ATI exams. Quizzes will be administered on Canvas in and outside of class. No notes, textbooks, or other resources should be used during the quizzes. Quizzes may not be made up.
Exams
Exams will be given on Canvas. No notes, texts, or other resources should be used during the exams unless specified by Professor Campbell. Exams may not be made up. Exams are taken in groups of three but students may select their own answer for each exam question. Students who are not able to attend class on exam day will take the exam on their own.

ATI Statement (Level Statement)

The following ATI Assessment Exams will be administered during Spring 2023 Semester:
ATI Assessment Date
Midterm March 7
Final April 23
Please note that a “ticket in” will be required to take the above ATI exams. A score of 90% on one of the Pharmacology practice exams for the given topic will be required prior to testing. You need a test ticket for every test. If the ticket is not submitted by the due date you will receive a grade of “0%” on that exam. A 90% is your ticket into each exam, Mid-term and Final. The mid-term ticket is Practice Test A, the final ticket is Practice Test B. The correct practice test must be completed for the specified exam. Screen shot or download your completed practice exam with a score of 90% or better and upload to the assignment link labeled as ATI ticket. Permission to reschedule the exam will be given on a case-by-case basis. The grade for a rescheduled ATI exam will be automatically deducted 10%.
Current proficiency levels for the Pharmacology ATI exams are:
  • Level 3: 86.7% - 100%
  • Level 2: 71.7% - 85%
  • Level 1: 53.3% - 70.0%
  • Below Level 1: 0.0% - 53.2%
Scoring for proficiency level are:
For students that reach Level 3 their grade will be
  • 95.1% - 100% proficiency equals 100%
  • 90.1% - 95% proficiency equals 95%
  • 86.7% - 90% proficiency equals 90%
For students that reach Level 2 their grade will be
  • 81.8% - 86.6% proficiency equals 88%
  • 76.8% - 81.7% proficiency equals 84%
  • 71.7% - 76.7% proficiency equals 80%
For students that reach Level 1 their grade will be
  • 66.2% - 71.6% proficiency equals 78%
  • 60.0% - 66.1% proficiency equals 74%
  • 53.3% - 59.9% proficiency equals 70%
Students who get Below Level 1 for any ATI receive 0%. If they receive at least Level 1 on either the midterm or the final ATI, the ATI they received Below Level 1 will be adjusted to 70%. Students who receive Below Level 1 on both the midterm and final ATI will receive 0% for both exams and will fail the course.
Any student that gets Below Level 1 proficiency score on an ATI exam must complete a learning plan in collaboration with the professor.
The 1st ATI is comprehensive. You may want to study the ATI chapters that are covered at the end of the semester prior to taking the first ATI exam.

Course Outline

Drug calculations
Intro to Pharm
Iv therapy and blood products
Cardiovascular
Respiratory
Pain Management
Psychiatric
Gastrointestinal
Endocrine and diabetes
Anticoagulants
Musculoskeletal
Autonomic Nervous System
Anesthesia
Antimicrobials
Benitourinary
Cannabis
CNS Stimulants
Hypnotics
Ears and Eyes
Immunizations
Chemotherapy
Dermatology
Alternative Therapies 

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Late Assignments

Papers/assignments are due at the time designated in Canvas. If you know you will miss a due date in advance, submit materials early. I retain the option of not accepting late papers/assignments and may deduct points for late work. I maintain final determination in situations related to late work. Please keep in mind that late work is not accepted by many SUU Nursing faculty. If late work is accepted in this course, it should not serve as a sign that it would be accepted by any other nursing faculty.

Make-up Work

There is no make-up work provided for any assignments. There is one extra credit assignment that may be found in Canvas. This is due by the end of the semester and is worth five quiz points.

Quizzes may not be made up.

Exams may not be made up.

Permission to reschedule the exam will be given on a case-by-case basis. The grade for a rescheduled ATI exam will be automatically deducted 10%.

Attendance Policy

10% of the course grade is participation and professional behavior. Students are expected to attend and participate in class. Any student absent from class, or who is only able to participate through Zoom, will miss the points for that class period, regardless of the reason. Consequences of missing class and/or refusing to participate in class learning activites include but are not limited to missing important information and participation points being subtracted from grade. If you know you are going to miss a class, please notify me in advance.

I am able to zoom during class and can use this for students who are not able to attend class. Please let me know if you are going to be absent.

Participation in Class

You will be responsible for attendance during scheduled class time. Any information you miss by not being present is your responsibility. Students are responsible to behave professionally towards the professor and other students in all online interactions.

Course Fees

Content for this section will be provided by the instructor.

Recommended Texts

Mental Health of Students

I care very much about my students. I recognize that the nursing program is very rigorous and challenging and I am always concerned about your emotional and mental health. Please know that you can come to my office anytime. If you find yourself struggling with mental health, please also visit https://www.suu.edu/mentalhealth/ for resources.

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.