Unit 2: Cardiovascular Pharmacology

Welcome to Unit 2 of Advanced Pharmacology. This week’s focus is on drugs that affect the cardiovascular system. However, we can’t discuss cardiovascular medications without considering the renal system. These two systems are physiologically related and are covered together.

Your heart plays a central role in your circulatory system. To fully understand the effects of drugs on these systems, you need to apply the pathophysiology concepts you learned in your previous course. Knowing about cardiac function, electrical stimulation, cardiac potential, and the mechanisms that regulate blood pressure is essential. These mechanisms are crucial for a healthy heart function. Malfunctions can lead to conditions like hypertension and heart failure.

It’s also important to have a grasp of homeostasis as a fundamental principle for rational drug selection. The Renin-angiotensin system is especially important for maintaining homeostasis. Your knowledge of renal system pathophysiology and fluid volume will guide you in selecting appropriate drugs, along with the topics covered in the previous weeks of this course.

Unit Learning Objectives:

1. Understand the pathophysiology and therapeutics guiding pharmacotherapeutic interventions for the cardiovascular and renal systems.
2. Analyze how agents affecting the cardiovascular and renal systems work in terms of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.
3. Apply critical thinking to manage and evaluate the expected effects, potential adverse effects, and interactions of drugs that affect the cardiovascular and renal systems.
4. Evaluate the impact of factors like pharmacogenomics, access, cost, quality, and safety on prescribing drugs for the cardiovascular and renal systems.

Unit 2 “To Do” List:

– Complete the Shadow Health: Antihypertensive Concept Lab by Sunday Week 3.
– Finish the High-Yield Med Review Cardiovascular Quiz by Sunday Week 3.

Learning Materials:

Lectures & E-Book:
– Busti, A. J. (2022). NP Curriculum Support-Advanced Pharmacology for NPs. MedEducation, LLC.
– Various topics covered, including ACE inhibitors, ARBs, Aldosterone Antagonists, Alpha 1 Blockers, Alpha 2 Agonists, Beta Blockers, Calcium Channel Blockers, Thiazide Diuretics, Loop Diuretics, and Antiarrhythmics Parts 1 & 2.

Unit 3 Optional Learning Resources:

Media:
– Speed Pharmacology. (2017, January 9). Pharmacology – antiarrhythmic drugs (made easy) [Video]. YouTube.
– Speed Pharmacology. (2017, March 21). Pharmacology – hypertension & antihypertensives (made easy) [Video]. YouTube.
– Speed Pharmacology. (2017, May 16). Pharmacology – drugs for hyperlipidemia (made easy) [Video]. YouTube.

Websites:
– Khan Academy. (2018h). Circulatory system diseases. Retrieved from [Link]
– Flack, J. M. & Adekola, B. (2020). Blood pressure and the new ACC/AHA hypertension guidelines. Retrieved from [Link]

Assignment: Shadow Health: Concept Lab – Antihypertensive

Engage in the Shadow Health Concept Lab focused on antihypertensive drugs. This lab will help you understand pharmacological concepts related to commonly used antihypertensives. The module should take about 30 minutes to complete.

Upon completion:
– Submit your completion certificate.
– Provide a 1-page reflection response in APA format, discussing the resources and guidelines you’ll use to identify, diagnose, and treat high blood pressure, and how this applies to your NP practice.

For technical support, contact Shadow Health support specialists via the Learner Support Page or email support@shadowhealth.com or call 800.860.3241.

Assignment: HYMR Quiz – Cardiovascular

After reviewing assigned lectures and E-book chapters, take the module quiz in the HYMR platform:
– From the Dashboard, select “EXAMS.”
– Navigate to “Cardiology-Self Assessment.”
– Click “Take Exam.”

Complete 10 questions in 15 minutes. Capture your score screenshot and upload it for grading. The quiz is worth 20 points, with points awarded based on your percentage.

Conclusion:

As we conclude week three of Advanced Pharmacology, remember that effective management of the cardiovascular and renal systems is closely linked to pathophysiology and maintaining homeostasis. Understanding homeostasis’s role in rational drug selection remains crucial. Your pathophysiology knowledge will continue to guide rational drug selection in all aspects of this course. In the coming week, our focus will remain on cardiovascular and hematologic pharmacology.

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