MCCCD Program Description

Respiratory Care Pharmacology II

Course: RES235

First Term: 2009 Fall

Lecture 2 Credit(s) 2 Period(s) 2 Load
Subject Type: Occupational
Load Formula: S

Description: Pharmacologic principles specific to the care of the respiratory patient in the acute care environment to include: cardiac and renal agents, blood pressure and antithrombotic agents, neuromuscular, anesthetic, sedative, analgesic agents

MCCCD Official Course Competencies
1. Relate cardiovascular physiology to pharmacological agents. (I) 2. Describe the pharmacological effects of antiarrhythmics, inotropes, diuretics and vasodilators. (I) 3. Describe indications and pharmacological effects of various types of antihypertensive and antithrombotic drugs. (II) 4. Describe the mechanism of action and clinical application of neuromuscular blocking agents and respiratory stimulants. (III) 5. Discuss the mechanisms of action of medications that are hypnotic, sedative or anxiolytic and their importance in cardiorespiratory practice. (III) 6. Explain the pain pathway and the role of analgesic medications. (III) 7. Discuss the role of medications used for general anesthesia and distinguish them from local anesthesia. (III)
MCCCD Official Course Competencies must be coordinated with the content outline so that each major point in the outline serves one or more competencies. MCCCD faculty retains authority in determining the pedagogical approach, methodology, content sequencing, and assessment metrics for student work. Please see individual course syllabi for additional information, including specific course requirements.

MCCCD Official Course Outline
I. Cardiac and Renal Agents A. Cardiovascular Overview 1. Cardiac circulation and conduction 2. Electrocardiogram (EKG) 3. Arrhythmias B. Antiarrhythmic Agents 1. Digoxin 2. Adenosine 3. Proarrhythmia C. Treatment of Congestive Heart Failure 1. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors 2. Dobutamine 3. Dopamine 4. Nitroprusside 5. Beta antagonists 6. Vasodilators D. Renal Pharmacology 1. Overview of renal physiology 2. Thiazide diuretic 3. Loop diuretics 4. Potassium-sparing diuretics E. Shock Management 1. Pathology of shock 2. Pharmacology of shock management F. Treatment of Myocardial Infarct (MI) 1. Treatment of angina 2. Pharmacology used in the management of MI II. Blood Pressure and Antithrombotic Agents A. Review of Blood Pressure Physiology 1. Blood pressure regulation 2. Hypertension B. Drugs to Treat Hypertension 1. Central acting sympatholytics 2. Peripheral acting sympatholytics 3. Beta-blockers 4. Diuretics 5. ACE inhibitors 6. Angiotensin II receptor blockers 7. Calcium channel blockers 8. Vasodilators 9. Hypertensive emergency drugs C. Antithrombotic Drugs 1. Mechanism of blood clotting 2. Anticoagulants 3. Thrombolytics III. Neuromuscular, Anesthetic, Sedative and Analgesic Agents A. Physiology of Nerve Transmission 1. Skeletal muscle contraction B. Skeletal Muscle Relaxants C. Sedatives/Hypnotics/Anxiolytics 1. Benzodiazepines 2. Barbiturates 3. Cocktails D. Anesthetics 1. General anesthesia 2. Local anesthesia 3. Administration of anesthetic agents E. Analgesia 1. Pain response 2. Opioids 3. Opioid antagonists 4. Steroid anti-inflammatory agent 5. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agent

MCCCD Governing Board Approval Date: 5/26/2009

All information published is subject to change without notice. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information presented, but based on the dynamic nature of the curricular process, course and program information is subject to change in order to reflect the most current information available.