Pharmacology — Study Module
PHARMACOLOGY
Module 2 — Complete Structured Study Module & Outline
Pharmacokinetics, Drug Classifications by Body System, High-Alert Medications, and Nursing Considerations Across the Lifespan
Designed for: Nursing Students (Pharmacology Course)
1
, Pharmacology — Study Module
Table of Contents
2
, Pharmacology — Study Module
Unit 1: Foundations of Pharmacology
1.1 Key Terminology
• Pharmacology: the study of drugs and their interactions with living systems.
• Pharmacokinetics: what the body does to the drug (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion).
• Pharmacodynamics: what the drug does to the body (mechanism of action, therapeutic effect).
• Pharmacotherapeutics: the clinical use of drugs to prevent and treat disease.
• Pharmacogenomics: how genetic makeup affects individual drug response.
• Toxicology: the study of harmful/poisonous effects of drugs and substances.
1.2 Drug Naming
Name Type Description Example
Chemical name Describes the drug's chemical N-acetyl-para-aminophenol
structure
Generic name Official, non-proprietary name; acetaminophen
lowercase
Brand/Trade name Manufacturer's proprietary name; Tylenol®
capitalized, ®/™
1.3 Drug Forms & Routes
• Solid forms: tablet, capsule, caplet, enteric-coated tablet (dissolves in intestine, not stomach — never crush).
• Liquid forms: elixir (contains alcohol), suspension (must be shaken before use), syrup.
• Routes: oral, sublingual, buccal, topical, transdermal, inhalation, rectal, vaginal, ophthalmic, otic, nasal, and parenteral
(ID, SubQ, IM, IV).
• Never crush enteric-coated or sustained/extended-release medications — doing so can cause a rapid dose dump and
toxicity.
1.4 Regulatory & Legal Framework
• The FDA (or regional equivalent) approves drugs based on safety and efficacy data from clinical trials (Phase I–IV).
• Controlled substances are classified by abuse potential (in the U.S., Schedule I – no accepted medical use/highest abuse
potential — to Schedule V – lowest abuse potential).
• Schedule II drugs (e.g., morphine, oxycodone) require a written/electronic prescription in most jurisdictions, no refills,
and strict counting/witnessing for waste.
• Pregnancy risk categories (legacy A/B/C/D/X system, being replaced in some regions by narrative labeling): Category X
drugs are contraindicated in pregnancy due to proven fetal risk.
3
PHARMACOLOGY
Module 2 — Complete Structured Study Module & Outline
Pharmacokinetics, Drug Classifications by Body System, High-Alert Medications, and Nursing Considerations Across the Lifespan
Designed for: Nursing Students (Pharmacology Course)
1
, Pharmacology — Study Module
Table of Contents
2
, Pharmacology — Study Module
Unit 1: Foundations of Pharmacology
1.1 Key Terminology
• Pharmacology: the study of drugs and their interactions with living systems.
• Pharmacokinetics: what the body does to the drug (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion).
• Pharmacodynamics: what the drug does to the body (mechanism of action, therapeutic effect).
• Pharmacotherapeutics: the clinical use of drugs to prevent and treat disease.
• Pharmacogenomics: how genetic makeup affects individual drug response.
• Toxicology: the study of harmful/poisonous effects of drugs and substances.
1.2 Drug Naming
Name Type Description Example
Chemical name Describes the drug's chemical N-acetyl-para-aminophenol
structure
Generic name Official, non-proprietary name; acetaminophen
lowercase
Brand/Trade name Manufacturer's proprietary name; Tylenol®
capitalized, ®/™
1.3 Drug Forms & Routes
• Solid forms: tablet, capsule, caplet, enteric-coated tablet (dissolves in intestine, not stomach — never crush).
• Liquid forms: elixir (contains alcohol), suspension (must be shaken before use), syrup.
• Routes: oral, sublingual, buccal, topical, transdermal, inhalation, rectal, vaginal, ophthalmic, otic, nasal, and parenteral
(ID, SubQ, IM, IV).
• Never crush enteric-coated or sustained/extended-release medications — doing so can cause a rapid dose dump and
toxicity.
1.4 Regulatory & Legal Framework
• The FDA (or regional equivalent) approves drugs based on safety and efficacy data from clinical trials (Phase I–IV).
• Controlled substances are classified by abuse potential (in the U.S., Schedule I – no accepted medical use/highest abuse
potential — to Schedule V – lowest abuse potential).
• Schedule II drugs (e.g., morphine, oxycodone) require a written/electronic prescription in most jurisdictions, no refills,
and strict counting/witnessing for waste.
• Pregnancy risk categories (legacy A/B/C/D/X system, being replaced in some regions by narrative labeling): Category X
drugs are contraindicated in pregnancy due to proven fetal risk.
3
