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Online CE Courses | Pharmacology

This online ce course is offered in cooperation with McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc and utilizes text from the textbook “Pharmacology for the Physical Therapist” by Peter C. Panus, PhD, PT, Bertram Katzung, PhD, MD, Erin E Jobst, PT, PhD, Suzanne L. Tinsley, PT, PhD, Susan B. Masters, PhD and Anthony J. Trevor, PhD © 2009.
 
Instructional Level: Beginner to Intermediate
 
This continuing education course is based on what healthcare professionals in rehabilitation need to know about pharmacology.  Offering a complete but focused presentation of pharmacology as it affects patients in rehabilitation, while illuminating its ever-expanding role in the rehabilitation practice.

Throughout this course you will find valuable insights on the full range of pharmacology topics, from analgesics and muscle relaxants, to cancer chemotherapy – all taught from the vantage point of the practicing therapist.  You can expect complete, up-to-date descriptions of common adverse drug reactions relevant to therapeutic practice, as well as explanations of how drugs can disrupt functional and clinical outcomes along with corresponding therapy-based solutions to overcome these issues.  Also included are Problem-Oriented Patient Studies which feature the patient as the focal point of the case rather than drug therapy itself as well as at-a-glance summaries of the drugs available to treat specific conditions and disorders.
 
To better meet your professional continuing education needs, this fully illustrated text of 573 pages has been carefully broken down by sections into 4 modules.  Each module approved for 10 contact hours of post-graduate continuing education (NOTE: board approvals vary state to state, please check your states approval status in the state specific course catalog by returning to our home page and entering both your state and profession)

Each 10 contact hour module can be purchased individually or combined with one or all of the other modules from this course to create a Course Bundle.  Each course is offered in two easy formats to again meet your professional needs.  You can choose to have immediate access to your course by selecting the online format (PDF download) or a hard copy of the material can be rushed to your home by selecting our mail format.

Available for Athletic Trainers, Occupational Therapist, Occupational Therapist Assistants, Physical Therapist, Physical Therapist Assistant

Modules In Course

Module 1: Drugs affecting the Cardiovascular System
Module 1: Drugs Affecting the Cardiovascular System
Module Goals and Objectives
 
Module Goals:This course is intended to instruct the professional through a self-paced study of the Drugs Affecting the Cardiovascular System.
 
Professional Learning Objectives
 
  1. Describe the autonomic nervous system and the breakdown of the sympathetic (thoracolumbar) division and the parasympathetic (craniosacral) division.
  2. List the five key features of neurotransmitter functions that represent potential targets for pharmacologic therapy.
  3. Discuss central and peripheral integration and levels at which they occur.
  4. Demonstrate knowledge in the pharmacologic modification of the autonomic functions.
  5. Differentiate between sympathomimetics and sympatholytics.
  6. Define cholinergic.
  7. Differentiate between antimuscarinic receptors and antinicotinics receptors.
  8. Identify the two groups of direct acting agonist of the cholinergic system.
  9. Recognize the clinical application of the direct acting muscarinic agonist.
  10. Explain malignant hyperthermia.
  11. Discuss the clinical relevance for rehabilitation and the adverse drug reactions of anticholinergics.
  12. Differentiate between sympathomimetics and sympatholytics.
  13. List the endogenous adrenoceptor agonists, and discuss the chemistry and pharmacokinetics of each.
  14. Discuss the clinical applications of sympathomimetics.
  15. Identify the drug of choice for immediate treatment of anaphylactic shock.
  16. Recognize the clinical application of sympatholytics drugs.
  17. Demonstrate knowledge in antihypertensive drugs.
  18. Discuss high blood pressure and therapeutic strategies for patients with high blood pressure.
  19. Recognize the clinical use of β-blockers.
  20. Discuss the common use of Mannitol.
  21. Demonstrate knowledge in the drugs used in the treatment of angina pectoris.
  22. Explain the clinical indications as well as the adverse effects of calcium channel blocking drugs.
  23. Identify the adverse drug reactions of drugs used to treat angina pectoris and how these interfere with rehabilitation.
  24. Discuss drugs used to treat heart failure and differentiate between Class I, Class II, Class III and Class IV
  25. Recognize the antiarrhythmic drugs and discuss the action potentials in the cardiac cell.
  26. Demonstrate knowledge in the drugs that affect the blood.
  27. Identify nutrients that can prevent or correct red blood cell deficiencies.
  28. Explain hematopoietic growth factors.
  29. Discuss why heparin is the drug of choice when an anticoagulant must be used during pregnancy.


Included in Module 1: Drugs Affecting the Cardiovascular System

Chapter 4:  Introduction to Autonomic Pharmacology
Chapter 5:  Drugs Affecting the Cholinergic System
Chapter 6:  Sympathomimetics and Sympatholytics
Chapter 7:  Antihypertensive Drugs 
Chapter 8:  Drugs Used in the Treatment of Angina Pectoris
Chapter 9:  Drugs Used in Heart Failure
Chapter 10:  Antiarrhythmic Drugs
Chapter 11:  Drugs Affecting the Blood
Module 2: Drugs Affecting the Central Nervous System
Module 2: Drugs Affecting the Central Nervous System
Module Goals and Objectives
 
Module Goals:This course is intended to instruct the professional through a self-paced study of the Drugs Affecting the Central Nervous System.
 
Professional Learning Objectives
 
  1. Discuss ion channels and neurotransmitter receptors.
  2. Differentiate between voltage-gated and ligand-gated channels.
  3. Identify the neurotransmitter pharmacology in the central nervous system.
  4. Demonstrate knowledge in the sedative-hypnotic drugs.
  5. Explain the role lipid solubility plays in determining the rate at which a particular sedative-hypnotic enters the CNS.
  6. List the clinical uses of sedative-hypnotic drugs.
  7. Explain the adverse effects possible with sedative-hypnotic drugs.
  8. Discuss antiseizure drugs.
  9. Identify the drugs that are useful in generalized (absence) seizures.
  10. Demonstrate knowledge in general anesthetics.
  11. Identify the adverse effects of general anesthetics involving the central nervous system, cardiovascular system and respiratory system.
  12. Discuss the intravenous anesthetics differentiating between barbiturates, propofol and ketamine.
  13. Recognize local anesthetics.
  14. Identify methods of delivery and clinical uses of local anesthetics.
  15. Discuss the pharmacologic management of Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders.
  16. Identify the adverse effect associated with selegiline.
  17. Demonstrate knowledge in antipsychotic drugs and lithium.
  18. Recognize the advantages and disadvantages of antipsychotic drugs.
  19. Discuss the implications of using lithium while pregnant.
  20. Explain the clinical relevance for rehabilitation and therapeutic solutions for patients taking antipsychotic drugs.
  21. Discuss antidepressant drugs.
  22. Explain the benefit of using selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder.
  23. Demonstrate knowledge in opioid analgesics and antagonist.
  24. Identify which longer acting opioid is used in the management of opioid withdrawal states and in maintenance programs for addicts.
  25. Discuss drug abuse.
  26. Explain the use of flumazenil to reverse the CNS depressant effects of benzodiazepines.


Included in Module 2:  Drugs Affecting the Central Nervous System

Chapter 12:  Introduction to the Pharmacology of the Central Nervous System Drugs
Chapter 13:  Sedative-Hypnotic Drugs
Chapter 14:  Antiseizure Drugs
Chapter 15:  General Anesthetics
Chapter 16:  Local Anesthetics
Chapter 17:  Pharmacologic Management of Parkinson’s disease and Other Movement Disorders
Chapter 18:  Antipsychotic Drugs and Lithium
Chapter 19:  Antidepressant Agents
Chapter 20:  Opioid Analgesics and Antagonists
Chapter 21:  Drugs of Abuse

Module 3: Drugs Affecting the Musculoskeletal System and Special Topics
Module 3: Drugs Affecting the Musculoskeletal System and Special Topics
Module Goals and Objectives
 
Module Goals:This course is intended to instruct the professional through a self-paced study of the Drugs Affecting the Musculoskeletal System and Special Topics.
 
Professional Learning Objectives
 
  1. Identify the role of hormones in regulating physiologic processes.
  2. Define octreotide.
  3. List the anterior pituitary hormones.
  4. Demonstrate knowledge in the selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs).
  5. Discuss corticosteroids and corticosteroid antagonists.
  6. Differentiate between glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids.
  7. Demonstrate knowledge in the cause of an addisonian crisis.
  8. Identify the major endogenous mineralocorticoid in humans.
  9. Discuss pancreatic hormones and antidiabetic drugs.
  10. Identify the primary action of the insulin secretagogues, such as sulfonylureas.
  11. Recognize the most common serious toxicity associated with metformin.
  12. Discuss drugs that affect bone mineral homeostasis.
  13. Demonstrate knowledge in the role thiazide diuretics play in reducing hypercalciuria and nephrolithiasis in subjects with idiopathic hypercalciuria.
  14. Discuss Paget’s disease.
  15. Discuss antihyperlipidemic drugs.
  16. List the potential serious adverse effects of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors.
  17. Identify the most common adverse effect of niacin.
  18. Demonstrate knowledge of the skeletal muscle relaxants.
  19. Demonstrate knowledge in the possible side effects and effectiveness of dantrolene.
  20. Identify the appropriate use of metaxalone.
  21. Discuss drugs affecting eicosanoid metabolism, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, and drugs used in gout.
  22. Recognize the appropriate use for misoprostol.
  23. Demonstrate knowledge in the half life of acetaminophen in person with normal hepatic function and that of individuals with renal disease.
  24. Identify the mechanism of action and the clinical use of allopurinol.
  25. List the clinical effects of glucocorticoids.
  26. Discuss drugs affecting the respiratory system.
  27. Identify a common side effect of the drug hydroxyzine, a first-generation anti-histamine.
  28. Discuss the adverse drug reactions of nasal decongestants that can interfere with rehabilitation.
  29. Identify the class of medications that is useful in the treatment of Zolliner-Ellison syndrome.
  30. Discuss drugs used to treat gastrointestinal disorders.
  31. Identify the clinical use of sulfasalzaine.


Included in Module 3:  Drugs Affecting the Musculoskeletal System and Special Topics

Chapter 22:  Growth, Thyroid, and Gonadal Pharmacology
Chapter 23:  Corticosteroids and Corticosteroid Antagonist
Chapter 24:  Pancreatic Hormones and Antidiabetic Drugs
Chapter 25:  Drugs that Affect Bone Mineral Homeostasis
Chapter 26:  Antihyperlipidemic Drugs
Chapter 33:  Skeletal Muscle Relaxants
Chapter 34:  Drugs Affecting Eicosanoid Metabolism, Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs, and Drugs Used in Gout
Chapter 35:  Drugs Affecting the Respiratory System
Chapter 36:  Drugs Used to Treat Gastrointestinal Disorders

Module 4: Chemotherapeutics
Module Goals and Objectives
 
Module Goals:This course is intended to instruct the professional through a self-paced study of the Chemotherapeutic drugs in Pharmacology.
 
Professional Learning Objectives
 
1.  Discuss and identify antibacterial agents.
2.  Identify the most common mechanism of resistance of bacteria.
3.  Recognize the clinical uses and adverse effects of clindamycin.
4.  Demonstrate knowledge in the adverse effects of sulfonamides when administrated during pregnancy.
5.  List medications used in the treatment of tuberculosis.
6.  Discuss the medications used to treat leprosy.
7.  Identify the adverse effects of antibacterial agents as they effect rehabilitation.
8.  Demonstrate knowledge in antiviral agents.
9.  Recognize the drug of choice for treatment of CMV.
10.  Discuss nevirapine and the severe adverse effects associated with it.
11.  Demonstrate knowledge in anti-influenza drugs.
12.  Identify drugs used for systemic fungal infections.
13.  Discuss antifungal and antiparasitic agents.
14.  Discuss fungal infections and the difficulty associated with treatment.
15.  Identify the primary antifungal drug used in treatment of onychomycosis.
16.  Discuss the treatment of choice for pinworms (Enterobius vermicularis) infections.
17.  Recognize antimicrobial agents such as disinfectants, antiseptics, Sterilants and preservatives.
18.  Define antisepsis.
19.  Identify the topical cream used in prevention of gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial colonization of burned skin and tissue.
20.  Demonstrate knowledge in both the advantages and disadvantages or antiseptic and disinfectants.
21.  Discuss cancer chemotherapy.
22.  List the delayed toxicities of methotrexate (MTX).
23.  Differentiate between the antibiotic cancer chemotherapy drugs and their toxicities.
24.  Discuss Immunopharmacology.
25.  Identify the clinical use and toxicity of cyclophosphamide.
26.  Discuss monoclonal antibodies.
27.  Recognize the clinical use of the immunosuppressive agent RhO (D) immune globulin.
28.  Demonstrate knowledge in the types of hypersensitivity allergies.


Included in Module 4:  Chemotherapeutics

Chapter 27:  Antibacterial Agents
Chapter 28:  Antiviral Agents
Chapter 29:  Antifungal and Antiparasitic Agents
Chapter 30:  Miscellaneous Antimicrobial Agents:  Disinfectants, Antiseptics, Sterilants, and Preservatives
Chapter 31:  Cancer Chemotherapy
Chapter 32:  Immunopharmacology