PHARMACOLOGY: RX FOR THE FUNDAMENTALS

Course Overview
Dispensing medications, both Rx and OTC, is a common occurrence in every veterinary practice. Although prescribing medication falls only to the veterinarian, the actual preparation and labeling of drugs is often handled by members of the practice team. There is more to dispensing of medication than counting pills or writing a label. Team members need to understand the foundational principles of pharmacology and then use that knowledge to help the practice prevent pharmaceutical errors. It is vital that every team member who is involved in handling or dispensing medications be well trained. This training can help prevent adverse events which affect not only the health of patients but the health of the practice. *Pharmacology: Rx for the Fundamentals* provides up-to-date information, covering topics such as drug classifications, contraindications, side effects and potential complications. Upon completion of this 6-week course, students will be able to calculate doses provided by the veterinarian and administer medication properly, as guided by the "5 Rights of Medication Administration." Some of the assignments in the course will require practice resources and/or personal practice experience to complete.

Course Overview

Dispensing medications, both Rx and OTC, is a common occurrence in every veterinary practice. Although prescribing medication falls only to the veterinarian, the actual preparation and labeling of drugs is often handled by members of the practice team. There is more to dispensing of medication than counting pills or writing a label. Team members need to understand the foundational principles of pharmacology and then use that knowledge to help the practice prevent pharmaceutical errors. It is vital that every team member who is involved in handling or dispensing medications be well trained. This training can help prevent adverse events which affect not only the health of patients but the health of the practice.

Pharmacology: Rx for the Fundamentals provides up-to-date information, covering topics such as drug classifications, contraindications, side effects and potential complications. Upon completion of this 6-week course, students will be able to calculate doses provided by the veterinarian and administer medication properly, as guided by the "5 Rights of Medication Administration."

Some of the assignments in the course will require practice resources and/or personal practice experience to complete.

Continuing Education Credits
Course meets the requirements for 15 RACE hours of continuing education credit for veterinary technicians in jurisdictions which recognize AAVSB's RACE approval. However, participants should be aware that some boards have limitations on the number of hours accepted in certain categories and/or restrictions on certain methods of delivery. This course is an interactive online course that meets RACE requirements; program number 57-10419.

Continuing Education Credits

Course meets the requirements for 15 RACE hours of continuing education credit for veterinary technicians in jurisdictions which recognize AAVSB's RACE approval. However, participants should be aware that some boards have limitations on the number of hours accepted in certain categories and/or restrictions on certain methods of delivery.

This course is an interactive online course that meets RACE requirements; program number 57-10419.

Open Enrollment and Activity Requirements
Open enrollment allows students to enroll in a course at a time that is best for their schedule. Each participant has a personal start and end date. Unless otherwise requested, a participant's start date will be within 48 hours of payment submission. During their personal 6 weeks of access time, the participant is not expected to be online in the course at any specific times as there are no real time lectures. However, all assignments must be submitted by the assignment deadline date. This course is designed to be as schedule friendly as possible as we understand it can be hard to fit interactive CE into an already busy schedule.

Open Enrollment and Activity Requirements

Open enrollment allows students to enroll in a course at a time that is best for their schedule. Each participant has a personal start and end date. Unless otherwise requested, a participant's start date will be within 48 hours of payment submission.

During their personal 6 weeks of access time, the participant is not expected to be online in the course at any specific times as there are no real time lectures. However, all assignments must be submitted by the assignment deadline date.

This course is designed to be as schedule friendly as possible as we understand it can be hard to fit interactive CE into an already busy schedule.

Course Focus, Content, and Learning Objectives
*Pharmacology: Conquering the Basics of Drugs* is an introductory level course designed for veterinary assistants and technicians who wish to increase, or refresh, their knowledge of pharmacology. Advanced receptionists wishing to further their education can also benefit from this course, as it addresses side effects of medications commonly dispensed, as well as contraindications. This 6-week course examines the most common classes of drugs used in today's veterinary practices. It begins with factors that affect drug absorption, routes of administration, and controlled drug considerations. Calculations and conversions are covered, along with antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-parasitic and antiviral drugs. Fluid therapy, anesthetics, analgesia, anticonvulsants, hormonal drugs, and vaccines are included. Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to: outline the Veterinarian-Client-Patient-Relationship and the 5 Rights of Drug Administration, and how it applies to dispensing drugs name the different routes of administration and explain injection considerations and concerns define systems of measurement and illustrate conversion between systems compare and contrast factors that affect drug absorption describe the role of the liver and kidneys when considering drug elimination calculate basic drug dosages list antimicrobial, antiviral and antifungal classes and discuss clinical uses and adverse side effects identify classes of antiparasitic drugs, commonly used ingredients in parasiticides, delivery methods, and common side effects name zoonotic parasites and evaluate effective treatments for each identify anti-inflammatory drugs, including NSAIDS and steroids, describe the mechanism of action, clinical uses, pre-screening measures and side effects list opioid drugs, describe the mechanism of action and adverse side effects describe principles, categories and types of fluid therapy list and describe the different classes of drugs used in anesthesia and analgesia compare and contrast drugs available to treat epilepsy outline the anatomy of the nervous system, explain how drugs affect the autonomic nervous system and the central nervous system, and list common side effects discuss respiratory, cardiac, gastrointestinal, and hormone drug usage and adverse side affects describe and compare vaccine types and explain vaccine induced adverse reactions

Course Focus, Content, and Learning Objectives

Pharmacology: Conquering the Basics of Drugs is an introductory level course designed for veterinary assistants and technicians who wish to increase, or refresh, their knowledge of pharmacology. Advanced receptionists wishing to further their education can also benefit from this course, as it addresses side effects of medications commonly dispensed, as well as contraindications.

This 6-week course examines the most common classes of drugs used in today's veterinary practices. It begins with factors that affect drug absorption, routes of administration, and controlled drug considerations. Calculations and conversions are covered, along with antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-parasitic and antiviral drugs. Fluid therapy, anesthetics, analgesia, anticonvulsants, hormonal drugs, and vaccines are included.

Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to:

outline the Veterinarian-Client-Patient-Relationship and the 5 Rights of Drug Administration, and how it applies to dispensing drugs
name the different routes of administration and explain injection considerations and concerns
define systems of measurement and illustrate conversion between systems
compare and contrast factors that affect drug absorption
describe the role of the liver and kidneys when considering drug elimination
calculate basic drug dosages
list antimicrobial, antiviral and antifungal classes and discuss clinical uses and adverse side effects
identify classes of antiparasitic drugs, commonly used ingredients in parasiticides, delivery methods, and common side effects
name zoonotic parasites and evaluate effective treatments for each
identify anti-inflammatory drugs, including NSAIDS and steroids, describe the mechanism of action, clinical uses, pre-screening measures and side effects
list opioid drugs, describe the mechanism of action and adverse side effects
describe principles, categories and types of fluid therapy
list and describe the different classes of drugs used in anesthesia and analgesia
compare and contrast drugs available to treat epilepsy
outline the anatomy of the nervous system, explain how drugs affect the autonomic nervous system and the central nervous system, and list common side effects
discuss respiratory, cardiac, gastrointestinal, and hormone drug usage and adverse side affects
describe and compare vaccine types and explain vaccine induced adverse reactions

Completion Requirements
Completed students are awarded a certificate of completion. Completion requirements include: Instructor Graded Interactive Comprehension Assignments: Designed to help the participant reinforce newly learned material Instructor Graded Interactive Critical Thinking and Case Study Assignments: Designed to help the participant apply the newly learned skills and knowledge though patient and practice based scenarios Examination: The course examination must be submitted with a score of 80% or better Course survey

Completion Requirements

Completed students are awarded a certificate of completion. Completion requirements include:

Instructor Graded Interactive Comprehension Assignments: Designed to help the participant reinforce newly learned material

Instructor Graded Interactive Critical Thinking and Case Study Assignments: Designed to help the participant apply the newly learned skills and knowledge though patient and practice based scenarios

Examination: The course examination must be submitted with a score of 80% or better

Course survey

Technology Requirements
Some sections of the course give the student the option of viewing on the page or via a PDF document; the latter facilitates downloading for future reference.

Required Textbook
*Applied Pharmacology for Veterinary Technicians, 5th Edition* Boyce P. Wanamaker & Kathy Massey Important Text Information: It is mandatory that each participant has access to this textbook as the content of the book is not reproduced within the course. It is up to each person to determine the best way to acquire the text. Some will already have the text in their library and therefore will not need to purchase another copy. The text is available as a print publication and as an eBook. Where to purchase and in what format is totally up to the participant. The text is not included in the fee for this course. USA residents: Elsevier texts, both print and eBook, are available via the *VetMedTeam Elsevier Text Portal* at discounts off regular retail of 25 - 35 %. If you would like to visit the portal to take advantage of the discount please use this link: VetMedTeam's Elsevier Text Portal Important: Regardless of which option the participant chooses, access to a copy of the textbook is mandatory. Without the text the student will not be able to complete the assignments, case studies and examinations. If enrolling close to or beyond the course start date, it is recommended that the text be purchased as an eBook to prevent text acquisition related delays. VetMedTeam has no control over shipping delays and other related problems.

Required Textbook

Applied Pharmacology for Veterinary Technicians, 5th Edition Boyce P. Wanamaker & Kathy Massey

Important Text Information:

It is mandatory that each participant has access to this textbook as the content of the book is not reproduced within the course. It is up to each person to determine the best way to acquire the text. Some will already have the text in their library and therefore will not need to purchase another copy. The text is available as a print publication and as an eBook. Where to purchase and in what format is totally up to the participant. The text is not included in the fee for this course.

USA residents: Elsevier texts, both print and eBook, are available via the VetMedTeam Elsevier Text Portal at discounts off regular retail of 25 - 35 %. If you would like to visit the portal to take advantage of the discount please use this link:

VetMedTeam's Elsevier Text Portal
Important: Regardless of which option the participant chooses, access to a copy of the textbook is mandatory. Without the text the student will not be able to complete the assignments, case studies and examinations. If enrolling close to or beyond the course start date, it is recommended that the text be purchased as an eBook to prevent text acquisition related delays. VetMedTeam has no control over shipping delays and other related problems.

Participant Feedback
...The dosing chart for medications in the back of the textbook proved extremely useful. It is something that I foresee myself using as a frequent reference. ...The assignments that involved using a clinic case to describe when, why, and how a drug/treatment was used helped connect the dots. The case studies were the best learning tool to connect everything together. ...I felt that the case studies were the most beneficial to me. Putting all of the knowledge learned into a situation that we may encounter in our daily jobs made it sink in more for me. ...I enjoy very much the recommended textbook. It is concise and very useful and focus to the a day by day use. ...Calculating drug doses for me was probably the most beneficial especially the solutions. ...The most beneficial part of the course for me was the math equations and the overview of the different anti-parastic drugs. ...I really enjoyed the fact that the book used was well written and easy to understand the material that was being taught. The assignments were interesting and the case studies were good cases to work through, minus the boxer case. ...I appreciated learning about the physiology of the CNS and endocrine systems, as well as how opioid works, as having that background helped me better understand how the drugs work.

Participant Feedback

...The dosing chart for medications in the back of the textbook proved extremely useful. It is something that I foresee myself using as a frequent reference.

...The assignments that involved using a clinic case to describe when, why, and how a drug/treatment was used helped connect the dots. The case studies were the best learning tool to connect everything together.

...I felt that the case studies were the most beneficial to me. Putting all of the knowledge learned into a situation that we may encounter in our daily jobs made it sink in more for me.

...I enjoy very much the recommended textbook. It is concise and very useful and focus to the a day by day use.

...Calculating drug doses for me was probably the most beneficial especially the solutions.

...The most beneficial part of the course for me was the math equations and the overview of the different anti-parastic drugs.

...I really enjoyed the fact that the book used was well written and easy to understand the material that was being taught. The assignments were interesting and the case studies were good cases to work through, minus the boxer case.

...I appreciated learning about the physiology of the CNS and endocrine systems, as well as how opioid works, as having that background helped me better understand how the drugs work.

Course Instructor
Lauren R. Eichstadt Forsythe, PharmD, FSVHP Dr. Lauren Eichstadt Forsythe is a graduate of the University of Findlay, College of Pharmacy. After completing her Doctor of Pharmacy Degree, Dr. Eichstadt Forsythe completed a veterinary pharmacy residency at the Purdue Veterinary Teaching Hospital. As Purdue's first Veterinary Pharmacy Resident, she was one of only 4 pharmacy residents in the country specializing in veterinary pharmacy. During her residency she developed, coordinated, and taught Purdue College of Pharmacy's first veterinary pharmacy elective course. Dr. Eichstadt Forsythe is Veterinary Clinical Pharmacist at the University of Illinois. She is also an Associate Editor for Plumb’s Veterinary Drug Handbook, and enjoys writing and presenting continuing education for veterinarians and pharmacists. Research interests include transdermal therapy for feline patients, behavior medications and compounding. In her spare time, she enjoys running and competing in hunter and equitation events with her Quarter Horse, Banjo.

Course Instructor

Lauren R. Eichstadt Forsythe, PharmD, FSVHP

Dr. Lauren Eichstadt Forsythe is a graduate of the University of Findlay, College of Pharmacy. After completing her Doctor of Pharmacy Degree, Dr. Eichstadt Forsythe completed a veterinary pharmacy residency at the Purdue Veterinary Teaching Hospital. As Purdue's first Veterinary Pharmacy Resident, she was one of only 4 pharmacy residents in the country specializing in veterinary pharmacy. During her residency she developed, coordinated, and taught Purdue College of Pharmacy's first veterinary pharmacy elective course.

Dr. Eichstadt Forsythe is Veterinary Clinical Pharmacist at the University of Illinois. She is also an Associate Editor for Plumb’s Veterinary Drug Handbook, and enjoys writing and presenting continuing education for veterinarians and pharmacists. Research interests include transdermal therapy for feline patients, behavior medications and compounding. In her spare time, she enjoys running and competing in hunter and equitation events with her Quarter Horse, Banjo.

Pricing
Price: $179.00 USD This course is eligible for the 10% Multi-course discount. To learn more about the discount please visit the Multi-Course Discount page.

PHARMACOLOGY: RX FOR THE FUNDAMENTALS

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