Overview
Nursing 516: Pharmacotherapeutics and Pathophysiology for Nurse Practitioners I is part of the Master of Nursing: Nurse Practitioner (MN-NP) degree and the Post-Masters Diploma: Nurse Practitioner (PMD-NP) program. NURS 516 may also be taken as an elective by students in the Master of Nursing (MN-GEN) or Master of Health Studies (MHS) programs, as well as by non-program students.
In NURS 516, you will develop an integrated approach to pathophysiology and pharmacology to support clinical decision making related to the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic presentations commonly managed by nurse practitioners.
It is assumed that you have a foundational background in pathophysiology and pharmacology prior to enrolling in NURS 516 and NURS 517. You are expected to complete the following self-paced learning modules: (i) Introduction to Pathophysiology for Nurse Practitioners and (ii) Introduction to Pharmacology for Nurse Practitioners. Links to these modules are available in NURS 000 and within NP Student Resources in Brightspace. Each module includes multiple units with videos and self-test questions and is not for credit.
Outline
NURS 516 is a paced course delivered over 13 weeks using a blended learning approach that combines asynchronous online learning and regular synchronous virtual sessions.
Course content emphasizes the integrated application of pathophysiology and pharmacotherapeutics to support safe, evidence-informed nurse practitioner practice across the lifespan. Emphasis is placed on the following:
- Prescriptive practice, regulatory frameworks, and professional accountability
- Integrated application of pathophysiology and pharmacotherapeutics in clinical reasoning and decision-making
- Pharmacologic principles, including pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, in therapeutic management
- Evidence-informed selection and management of pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic therapies for common health conditions, using a body system–based approach, including complementary and alternative therapies
- Medication safety, monitoring, patient education, and pharmacologic stewardship
Learning outcomes
After completing this course, you will be able to:
- Describe the link between the presenting signs and symptoms of common diseases across the lifespan and disordered physiology;
- Apply an understanding of disordered physiology to a client’s past and current health history to inform shared decision-making;
- Outline the legislation, regulatory and organizational requirements that impact prescribing of pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions including controlled drugs and substances;
- Discuss the mechanisms of action, contraindications, and interactions of common classes of drugs including controlled drugs and substances prescribed by nurse practitioners;
- Review current research related to complementary and alternative medicine including traditional medicine;
- Summarize strategies to manage polypharmacy and address pharmacologic stewardship.
Evaluation
Assessment in NURS 516 consists of multiple course activities with assigned percentage weightings. Your final grade is based on overall performance across all required assessments. A variety of assessment approaches are used to evaluate achievement of the course learning outcomes.
| Activity | Weight |
| Participation activities | 10% |
| Assessments | 20% |
| Exams | 70% |
| Total | 100% |
Materials
Digital course materials
Links to the following course materials will be made available in the course:
McCance, K. L., & Huether, S. E. (2024). Pathophysiology: The biologic basis for disease in adults and children (9th ed.). Elsevier.