NU 555 Psychopharmacology Across the Life Span

This course focuses on the study of advanced psychopharmacological treatment of psychiatric symptoms and disorders across the life span.  Neurobiological processes are emphasized. Medication selection, dosage and monitoring is covered including prescriptive issues. An in‑depth study of clinical psychopharmacology and toxicology is reviewed. Drugs affecting the organ systems are discussed with emphasis on mechanisms of drug action, types, and mechanism of adverse drug action as well as drug interactions. The nursing implications of each drug classification are emphasized together with the implications surrounding the decision-making process used in prescribing drugs. Drug legislation and regulations affecting advanced-practice nurses are studied. Relevant research with implications for nursing practice is presented. Prerequisite: NU 552, NU 554, NUF 500, NU 501