EMS 210 - Paramedic Pharmacology I

• Drug Fundamentals
  •  List examples of substances in each schedule.
  • Discuss standardization of drugs.
  • Discuss investigational drugs.
  • State the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval process.
  • Explain the FDA classifications for newly approved drugs.
  • Discuss special considerations in drug treatment with regard to pregnant, pediatric, and geriatric patients.
  • Discuss the paramedic’s responsibilities and scope concerning the administration of medications.
  • Giving attention to autonomic pharmacology, review the specific anatomy and physiology pertinent to pharmacology.
  • List and describe general properties of drugs.
  • Describe liquid and solid drug forms.
  • Differentiate routes of drug administration.
  • Differentiate between enteral and parenteral routes of drug administration.
  • Describe mechanisms of drug action.
  • Differentiate the phases of drug activity, including the pharmaceutical, pharmacokinetic, and pharmacodynamic phases.
  • Describe the process called pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, including theories of drug action, drug-response relationship, factors altering drug responses, predictable drug responses, iatrogenic drug responses, and unpredictable adverse drug responses.
  • Differentiate among drug interactions.
  • Discuss considerations for storing and securing medications
  • List the component of a drug profile by classification.
  • Integrate pathophysiological principles of pharmacology with patient assessment.
• Patient Assessment
  • Synthesize patient history information and assessment findings to form a field impression.
  • Synthesize a field impression to implement a pharmacologic management plan.
  • Assess the pathophysiology of a patient’s condition by identifying classifications of drugs.
  • Defend the administration of drugs by a paramedic to affect positive therapeutic effect.
  • Access the venous circulation and administer medications.
• Mathematics
  • Discuss the fundamentals of algebra.
  • Explain mathematical equivalents
  • Differentiate temperatures readings between the Centigrade and Fahrenheit scales.
  • Discuss formulas used in rug calculations.
  • Apply math principles to calculate problems associated with medication dosages.
  • Convert quantities from the household system to the metric system.
• Medication Administration
  • Describe the indication, equipment needed, techniques used, precautions, and general principles of:
    • Peripheral venous or external jugular cannulation
    • Intraosseous needle placement and infusion
    • Administering oral medications
    • Administering medications by the inhalation route
    • Administering medications by the gastric tube
    • Rectal medication administration
    • Preparation and administration of parenteral medications
  • Discuss legal aspects affecting medication administration.
  • Discuss the “six rights” of drug administration and correlate these with the principles of medication administration.
  • Differentiate among the different dosage forms of oral medications.
  • Differentiate among the different parenteral routes of medication administration.
  • Differentiate among the different percutaneous routes of medication administration.
  • Synthesize a pharmacologic management plan including medication administration.
  • Integrate pathophysiological principles of medication administration with patient management.
  • Comply with paramedic standards of medication administration.
  • Defend a pharmacologic management plan for medication administration.