Principles of Pharmacology for Medical Assisting

Jane Rice was Director of the Medical Assisting Program at Coosa Valley Technical College in Rome, Georgia for more than 30 years. During her tenure, she obtained AAMA accreditation for the program — the first in the state to do so — and served as an AMA/AAMA Program Evaluator and member of the AAMA Editorial Board. In addition to this text, she has published journal articles in The Professional Medical Assistant, and several other textbooks, including Medical Terminology for Health Care Professionals, Medical Terminology: A Word Building Approach, Medical Terminology with Human Anatomy, The Terminology of Health and Medicine, Medications and Mathematics for the Nurse, and SpellRight. Ms. Rice’s commitment to health education has earned her several awards, including the Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL), Georgia State Department of Technical and Adult Education Commissioner’s Award of Excellence, and Georgia Vocational Association’s Health Occupations Educator of the Year.

SECTION I: MATHEMATICS AND DOSAGE CALCULATIONS.
1. Numerals and Fractions.
2. Decimal Fractions.
3. Ratio and Proportion.
4. The Metric System.
5. Calculating Adult Dosages: Oral and Parenteral Forms.
6. Calculating Children’s Dosages.
SECTION II: INTRODUCTION TO PHARMACOLOGY.
7. Drug Sources, Schedules, and Dosages.
8. Forms of Drugs and How They Act.
9. The Medication Order.
10. Medication Administration Essentials.
11. Administration of Nonparenteral Medications.
12. Parenteral Equipment and Supplies.
13. Administration of Parenteral Medications.
14. Allergy: An Overview.
SECTION III: MEDICATIONS, SUPPLEMENTS, AND DRUG ABUSE.
15. Antibiotic Agents.
16. Antifungal, Antiviral, and Immunizing Agents.
17. Antineoplastic Agents.
18. Vitamins and Minerals.
19. Psychotropic Agents.
20. Substance Abuse.
SECTION IV: EFFECTS OF MEDICATIONS ON BODY SYSTEMS.
21. Medications Used for Musculoskeletal System Disorders.
22. Medications Used for Gastrointestinal System Disorders.
23. Medications Used for Cardiovascular System Disorders.
24. Medications That Affect the Respiratory System.
25. Diuretics and Medications Used for Urinary System Disorders.
26. Medications Used in Treatment of Endocrine Disorders.
27. Medications That Affect the Nervous System.
28. Medications That Affect the Reproductive System.
Appendix A: Alphabetical Listing of Websites for Additional Drug Information.
Appendix B: Helpful Resources.
Appendix C: Performance Checklists.