The University of Alabama
Capstone College of Nursing
NUR 521 Advanced Pharmacology
Exam 1 Blueprint and Study Guide
General Tips for Exam Success: A review of anatomy and pathophysiology is included at the beginning of most modules in the
course. You will not see many direct questions about this information; however, this foundational knowledge is necessary to
understand how drugs work in the body and how the body responds to drugs. You will be much more successful if you have a strong
foundational knowledge and understanding of this information.
You are responsible for knowing the name, MOA, Use (Indication), Common AE, Serious AE, Dosing, Administration, CI,
Interactions, and Patient Education for all prototype drugs included in each module. Most of the exam questions will focus on
the prototype drugs presented in each module. You also need to know about the drug class across the life span. There is content in
each module that discusses use of each drug class in pediatric, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and older adult populations. You will not
necessarily need to know an exact dose for prescribing on all of the prototype drugs, but if faculty stresses a certain dose in a lecture,
you will be responsible for this information. When attempting to narrow down the content, consider what you need to know to be a
safe prescriber. Also, listen for tips and what is emphasized in the lecture. This study guide is intended to help you focus your
studies; it does not include an exhaustive list of every test question. This is only a guide. If any evidenced base guidelines were
presented in the module, be sure to review what information was discussed by faculty in the lecture.
Complete the following chart. Include only the most pertinent information (what was emphasized in the lecture and in the readings).
Another idea is to only enter information you do not know well after studying the content. Think through the drug classification
and MOA. Often, it will lead to the AE and what the provider should teach to the patient. Do not seek to memorize; instead seek to
understand what the body does to the drug and what the drug does to the body.
Module 2 Prototype Drugs:
, Drug MOA Use Common Dosing/ CI Interactions Patient
and Serious Education
Administration
AE
Bethanechol direct acting urinary HoTN, brady, 10-50 mg TID or QID Low BP, cholinesterase Take on empty
(Urecholine) muscarinic retention in salivation, Low CO, inhibitors may stomach
agonist postop/PP cramps, Bowel increase AE
diarrhea, Obstr., PUD,
ASTHMA, Urinary tract Toxicity
neurogenic DYSRHYTHM obstr, BB may enhance
atony of weakness AE DUMBELS
bladder bladder wall,
asthma,
hyperthyroid
off label:
GERD/ GI
paralysis
Pyridostigmine act as Myasthenia cholinergic MG tx highly GI/GU obstr, effect of drug is do not dbl dose
(Mestinon) substrate for Gravis effects, individualized PUD, opposite of or stop abruptly
cholinesterase salivation, asthma, atropine
brady, sweat, hypothyroid,
Reversal of miosis, 60-1500mg per day, coronary take before
nondepol increased 600 mg divided into 5 insuff intercts w/lots of difficult
muscle tone/motility GI doses drugs activities
relaxers tract, incr gast
secretions,
urinary urgency
can use ER and IR to know s/s of tox
off label: sustain effectes from drug and
POTS MG crisis
assess swallow before
Atropine (AtroPen) blocks actions surgery dry mouth, 1 mg q3-5 min, max 3 tachy MI antipsychotic, drink fluids,
, Drug MOA Use Common Dosing/ CI Interactions Patient
and Serious Education
Administration
AE
of ACH blurred vision, mg for brady TCA, gum, hard candy
photophobia, antihistamine, for dry mouth
Brady and incr intraocular phenothiazine
AV block pressure, wt based dosing for
urinary retent, antidote reduce light
constip, no
ophthalmic sweat, tachy,
LT prep bronch plug
void prior to
dose
antidote to
mestinon
Epinephrine activates 4 delay HTN crisis, 0.3-0.5 q5-15mins use with MAOIs fill script,
(Adrenaline) subtypes of absorption of dysrhythmia, MAOIs replace if
adrenergic local angina, 0.1-0.2 mg/kg/min IV TCAs expires
receptors anesthesia extravasation inhld anesthetics
necrosis, high
BG A&B blockers keep auto-
control injector w/you
bleeding at all times
increase call 911 after
BP/HR use and bring
w/you
cardiac arrest
asthma
, Drug MOA Use Common Dosing/ CI Interactions Patient
and Serious Education
Administration
AE
anaphylactic
shock
Prazosin (Minipress) selective HTN orthostatic, 1-2 mg BID or TID up hypersense ETOH change position
blockade of dizziness, to 20 mg QD slow
alpha1 PTSD vertigo, reflex
adrenergic Raynaud’s tachy, nasal many drugs
receptors congest take 1st dose @
bedtime
Clonidine (Catapres) selective HTN CNS depression 1 patch Q7days pregnancy ETOH take @ bedtime
activation of
alpha 2 severe pain tachy brady
receptors in ADHD dysrhythmia 0.1 mg BID many drugs apply to hairless
CNS area
dry mouth
off label: rebound HTN
smoking
cess, opioid high abuse
withdrawal, potential
tourette’s
Levodopa/Carbidopa increases PD N/V dose highly cardiac dz antipsychotic takes time to
(Sinemet) dopamine individualized work
synthesis dyskenesias MAOI
avoid protein/fat
off label: HoTN MAOIs anticholinergic
RLS 1 tablet QD up to 8 take w/fruit
inhibits Psychosis per day Vit B6
decarboxylat change position
CNS effects high protein/fat
Capstone College of Nursing
NUR 521 Advanced Pharmacology
Exam 1 Blueprint and Study Guide
General Tips for Exam Success: A review of anatomy and pathophysiology is included at the beginning of most modules in the
course. You will not see many direct questions about this information; however, this foundational knowledge is necessary to
understand how drugs work in the body and how the body responds to drugs. You will be much more successful if you have a strong
foundational knowledge and understanding of this information.
You are responsible for knowing the name, MOA, Use (Indication), Common AE, Serious AE, Dosing, Administration, CI,
Interactions, and Patient Education for all prototype drugs included in each module. Most of the exam questions will focus on
the prototype drugs presented in each module. You also need to know about the drug class across the life span. There is content in
each module that discusses use of each drug class in pediatric, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and older adult populations. You will not
necessarily need to know an exact dose for prescribing on all of the prototype drugs, but if faculty stresses a certain dose in a lecture,
you will be responsible for this information. When attempting to narrow down the content, consider what you need to know to be a
safe prescriber. Also, listen for tips and what is emphasized in the lecture. This study guide is intended to help you focus your
studies; it does not include an exhaustive list of every test question. This is only a guide. If any evidenced base guidelines were
presented in the module, be sure to review what information was discussed by faculty in the lecture.
Complete the following chart. Include only the most pertinent information (what was emphasized in the lecture and in the readings).
Another idea is to only enter information you do not know well after studying the content. Think through the drug classification
and MOA. Often, it will lead to the AE and what the provider should teach to the patient. Do not seek to memorize; instead seek to
understand what the body does to the drug and what the drug does to the body.
Module 2 Prototype Drugs:
, Drug MOA Use Common Dosing/ CI Interactions Patient
and Serious Education
Administration
AE
Bethanechol direct acting urinary HoTN, brady, 10-50 mg TID or QID Low BP, cholinesterase Take on empty
(Urecholine) muscarinic retention in salivation, Low CO, inhibitors may stomach
agonist postop/PP cramps, Bowel increase AE
diarrhea, Obstr., PUD,
ASTHMA, Urinary tract Toxicity
neurogenic DYSRHYTHM obstr, BB may enhance
atony of weakness AE DUMBELS
bladder bladder wall,
asthma,
hyperthyroid
off label:
GERD/ GI
paralysis
Pyridostigmine act as Myasthenia cholinergic MG tx highly GI/GU obstr, effect of drug is do not dbl dose
(Mestinon) substrate for Gravis effects, individualized PUD, opposite of or stop abruptly
cholinesterase salivation, asthma, atropine
brady, sweat, hypothyroid,
Reversal of miosis, 60-1500mg per day, coronary take before
nondepol increased 600 mg divided into 5 insuff intercts w/lots of difficult
muscle tone/motility GI doses drugs activities
relaxers tract, incr gast
secretions,
urinary urgency
can use ER and IR to know s/s of tox
off label: sustain effectes from drug and
POTS MG crisis
assess swallow before
Atropine (AtroPen) blocks actions surgery dry mouth, 1 mg q3-5 min, max 3 tachy MI antipsychotic, drink fluids,
, Drug MOA Use Common Dosing/ CI Interactions Patient
and Serious Education
Administration
AE
of ACH blurred vision, mg for brady TCA, gum, hard candy
photophobia, antihistamine, for dry mouth
Brady and incr intraocular phenothiazine
AV block pressure, wt based dosing for
urinary retent, antidote reduce light
constip, no
ophthalmic sweat, tachy,
LT prep bronch plug
void prior to
dose
antidote to
mestinon
Epinephrine activates 4 delay HTN crisis, 0.3-0.5 q5-15mins use with MAOIs fill script,
(Adrenaline) subtypes of absorption of dysrhythmia, MAOIs replace if
adrenergic local angina, 0.1-0.2 mg/kg/min IV TCAs expires
receptors anesthesia extravasation inhld anesthetics
necrosis, high
BG A&B blockers keep auto-
control injector w/you
bleeding at all times
increase call 911 after
BP/HR use and bring
w/you
cardiac arrest
asthma
, Drug MOA Use Common Dosing/ CI Interactions Patient
and Serious Education
Administration
AE
anaphylactic
shock
Prazosin (Minipress) selective HTN orthostatic, 1-2 mg BID or TID up hypersense ETOH change position
blockade of dizziness, to 20 mg QD slow
alpha1 PTSD vertigo, reflex
adrenergic Raynaud’s tachy, nasal many drugs
receptors congest take 1st dose @
bedtime
Clonidine (Catapres) selective HTN CNS depression 1 patch Q7days pregnancy ETOH take @ bedtime
activation of
alpha 2 severe pain tachy brady
receptors in ADHD dysrhythmia 0.1 mg BID many drugs apply to hairless
CNS area
dry mouth
off label: rebound HTN
smoking
cess, opioid high abuse
withdrawal, potential
tourette’s
Levodopa/Carbidopa increases PD N/V dose highly cardiac dz antipsychotic takes time to
(Sinemet) dopamine individualized work
synthesis dyskenesias MAOI
avoid protein/fat
off label: HoTN MAOIs anticholinergic
RLS 1 tablet QD up to 8 take w/fruit
inhibits Psychosis per day Vit B6
decarboxylat change position
CNS effects high protein/fat
