I am so frustrated right now. I am doing horribly in pharmocology. I can't seem to get anything to stick in this already confused brain of mine. I was told, "Ooooooooh don't memorize each drug, just know the classes of drugs." OK, so I tried that...um, it doesn't help. All of the exams get so specific about every single, teeny, weeny thing. I feel like I would have to memorize the whole darn chapter in order to pass any of the exams. I don't know what to do. I have 2 more major exams and a final to bring my grade up to passing...I seriously have to ace all of them in order to survive that class with a C. Any hints, advice? Whatever you got, give it to me...I'm listening. Thanks!:)

I'm sorry you are struggling with this, Veronica. I wish I could help , but I haven't taken the class yet. I hope someone can offer some guidance. You know I'm cheering you on and I know you can do it! :)

hi there. I can tell you i am sitting in about the same place you are. I am passing now, but fearful that i will drop below if i do not pull a's or b's here on out. The only advice i can give you is to study the USES and actions. I am lucky enough to have an out lined module for the class which helps me tons. I could not pass with out it. The text we use is, in my opinion, useless. Its sad really because the books are expensive!!!!

I was struggling from the very beginning with the math, alls i can say at this pointg is that its too late to back out so take any oppertunity you can to outline the actions and uses. Maybe any odd side effects etc. Ask questions in class, don't be afraid!!!!

my tech tends to go over what we'll be tested on. It took awhile to pay close attention- you know, there is an overload of info.

what about a study group? have any friends in the class? If not then make some. I mean the chances are that there are others like you who may feel thaht any additional studying is helpful. Maybe ask for some pointers from the peers in your class. Every class is different, but myu biggest suggestion to you is to make the most of your free time.

I know its hard, but the information that you are learning in this clasas is stuff that we need to retain- it isn't like sociology or psyc.....this is actually useful info............................i hope tghat if nothing elese this eases you in knowing you are not alone!!!!!!

best of luck to you, lets make these last few weeks count!!!!

( i know, i am cheesy!)

V.,

The advice you got about memorizing the drug classes is good advice. It might be more helpful though if you study according to the way you're being tested rather than to try to memorize everything. You might benefit from a drug guide like Davis's. At the front of the guide they have a section that reviews the drug classifications, and it gives a very brief overview about what each one is for, how the meds work, and what the nurse should assess for before, and during therapy. It may seem like a lot of stuff to remember but as you read over the general use, actions, precautions, etc. some of it will begin to stick. Then quiz yourself with questions like what does a calcium channel blocker do? How does it work? What are the possible side effects? Name three common meds in this class... If you have a study partner to do this with that's even better.

When you study, try using the nursing drug guide instead of the pharm textbook and see if that helps you to remember the material better. (The drug guide contains only the essential information and it gets straight to the point. The textbook goes on and on with all a lot of high-brow language that can be a bit confusing.) Focus on: contraindications, interactions, side effects/adverse reactions, and nursing implications. You will find that these are similar for many drugs within the same classification. For instance, if you get a question about anti-infectives like genta or vanco you automatically know that priority nursing assessment includes allergies, and kidney and hearing problems. The drug book usually highlights the really important stuff in bold or in red print. These highlights are items that you really need to pay attention to.

Focus on patient teaching because you'll see questions on that, too. For instance, teaching a female pt who plans to become pregnant about the teratogenic effect of a med, or the side effects to expect such as constipation or diarrhea, or teaching a pt on antibiotics the importance of taking ALL the pills even after conditions seem to improve. Also look out for questions like: what would you teach a pt who's on flagyl about the implications of drinking alcohol?

Watch out for scenarios with a patient who crashes after you give an ordered med. They love to ask: what would the nurse do first? [Questions like these always have an option that says 'call the physician', but that's usually not the correct answer.] Or the question may be critical thinking: you have an order to give digoxin to a patient with severe CHF who's vitals are stable but is otherwise showing borderline signs of toxicity. Would you give the med, or not? [For a question like this you need to know the parameters of the med (therapeutic dig serum levels and critical electrolyte levels i.e. potassium and calcium)]. Or the question may just be a trick: The doctor ordered x dose of digoxin for an 8 year old kid with CHF. The pharmacy sends up x dose of digitoxin. This is: A. a therapeutic substitution, B. a generic substitution, C. a pharmacological substitution, or D. a medication error? [For a question like this you would need to know that although both these meds have the same root, one of them is much more concentrated than the other and is not used on kids].

There's really only a few very common meds in each class that they love to ask nursing students about so learn the brand names of the more common ones and build from there. Just stick with it and keep plugging away. Pharm is not so bad once you get into it.

I am so frustrated right now. I am doing horribly in pharmocology. I can't seem to get anything to stick in this already confused brain of mine. I was told, "Ooooooooh don't memorize each drug, just know the classes of drugs." OK, so I tried that...um, it doesn't help. All of the exams get so specific about every single, teeny, weeny thing. I feel like I would have to memorize the whole darn chapter in order to pass any of the exams. I don't know what to do. I have 2 more major exams and a final to bring my grade up to passing...I seriously have to ace all of them in order to survive that class with a C. Any hints, advice? Whatever you got, give it to me...I'm listening. Thanks!:)

is this a "Pre-Req" course? (like BioChemicalPharmacology) which you take usually before Junior year in a BSN prgram for example.

If it is:

1. Take a few deep breaths

2. Realise that others probably have similar problems like you do

3. Try to form study groups with sympathetic students who are doing wll in class. Remember, the only way you improve yourself is to surround yourself with people smarter than you! Nobody is perfect! We ALL need help at times!

4. Try to attend all classes.

5. Explain your difficulties to the professor. He/She mighty have some fantastic help/suggestion

I passed my Pharm course because I found this wonderful guy in class. We would alsways get together before exams and break our heads together. It was real frustrating and bad at times..... but it helped. I passed with a B+. I'm quite confident that without our mutual co-operation, I'd barely have gotten a C!

Best of luck to your future endeavours! :)

Thanks Tony! I was told to know the classes, but no one had ever really elaborated on it, therefore I didn't know what I was supposed to do w/that information. Some very good advice here. I am going to try using my Mosby's drug guide instead. You're right, the pharm. text is written in such a way that it is completely foreign to me and probably half of the students in class. Thanks again.

V.,

The advice you got about memorizing the drug classes is good advice. It might be more helpful though if you study according to the way you're being tested rather than to try to memorize everything. You might benefit from a drug guide like Davis's. At the front of the guide they have a section that reviews the drug classifications, and it gives a very brief overview about what each one is for, how the meds work, and what the nurse should assess for before, and during therapy. It may seem like a lot of stuff to remember but as you read over the general use, actions, precautions, etc. some of it will begin to stick. Then quiz yourself with questions like what does a calcium channel blocker do? How does it work? What are the possible side effects? Name three common meds in this class... If you have a study partner to do this with that's even better.

When you study, try using the nursing drug guide instead of the pharm textbook and see if that helps you to remember the material better. (The drug guide contains only the essential information and it gets straight to the point. The textbook goes on and on with all a lot of high-brow language that can be a bit confusing.) Focus on: contraindications, interactions, side effects/adverse reactions, and nursing implications. You will find that these are similar for many drugs within the same classification. For instance, if you get a question about anti-infectives like genta or vanco you automatically know that priority nursing assessment includes allergies, and kidney and hearing problems. The drug book usually highlights the really important stuff in bold or in red print. These highlights are items that you really need to pay attention to.

Focus on patient teaching because you'll see questions on that, too. For instance, teaching a female pt who plans to become pregnant about the teratogenic effect of a med, or the side effects to expect such as constipation or diarrhea, or teaching a pt on antibiotics the importance of taking ALL the pills even after conditions seem to improve. Also look out for questions like: what would you teach a pt who's on flagyl about the implications of drinking alcohol?

Watch out for scenarios with a patient who crashes after you give an ordered med. They love to ask: what would the nurse do first? [Questions like these always have an option that says 'call the physician', but that's usually not the correct answer.] Or the question may be critical thinking: you have an order to give digoxin to a patient with severe CHF who's vitals are stable but is otherwise showing borderline signs of toxicity. Would you give the med, or not? [For a question like this you need to know the parameters of the med (therapeutic dig serum levels and critical electrolyte levels i.e. potassium and calcium)]. Or the question may just be a trick: The doctor ordered x dose of digoxin for an 8 year old kid with CHF. The pharmacy sends up x dose of digitoxin. This is: A. a therapeutic substitution, B. a generic substitution, C. a pharmacological substitution, or D. a medication error? [For a question like this you would need to know that although both these meds have the same root, one of them is much more concentrated than the other and is not used on kids].

There's really only a few very common meds in each class that they love to ask nursing students about so learn the brand names of the more common ones and build from there. Just stick with it and keep plugging away. Pharm is not so bad once you get into it.

Well, I am in a career ladder program, so I am starting out at the LPN level, so this might be a little different. It's more like the pharm. class you would take in an ADN program(I don't know what the difference is, if any)But thank you for the advice:)

is this a "Pre-Req" course? (like BioChemicalPharmacology) which you take usually before Junior year in a BSN prgram for example.

If it is:

1. Take a few deep breaths

2. Realise that others probably have similar problems like you do

3. Try to form study groups with sympathetic students who are doing wll in class. Remember, the only way you improve yourself is to surround yourself with people smarter than you! Nobody is perfect! We ALL need help at times!

4. Try to attend all classes.

5. Explain your difficulties to the professor. He/She mighty have some fantastic help/suggestion

I passed my Pharm course because I found this wonderful guy in class. We would alsways get together before exams and break our heads together. It was real frustrating and bad at times..... but it helped. I passed with a B+. I'm quite confident that without our mutual co-operation, I'd barely have gotten a C!

Best of luck to your future endeavours! :)

Hugs to you Mrs. Lisa. I hope all is well w/you and your family:)

I'm sorry you are struggling with this, Veronica. I wish I could help , but I haven't taken the class yet. I hope someone can offer some guidance. You know I'm cheering you on and I know you can do it! :)

Thanks for your response and your great positive energy!:)

hi there. I can tell you i am sitting in about the same place you are. I am passing now, but fearful that i will drop below if i do not pull a's or b's here on out. The only advice i can give you is to study the USES and actions. I am lucky enough to have an out lined module for the class which helps me tons. I could not pass with out it. The text we use is, in my opinion, useless. Its sad really because the books are expensive!!!!

I was struggling from the very beginning with the math, alls i can say at this pointg is that its too late to back out so take any oppertunity you can to outline the actions and uses. Maybe any odd side effects etc. Ask questions in class, don't be afraid!!!!

my tech tends to go over what we'll be tested on. It took awhile to pay close attention- you know, there is an overload of info.

what about a study group? have any friends in the class? If not then make some. I mean the chances are that there are others like you who may feel thaht any additional studying is helpful. Maybe ask for some pointers from the peers in your class. Every class is different, but myu biggest suggestion to you is to make the most of your free time.

I know its hard, but the information that you are learning in this clasas is stuff that we need to retain- it isn't like sociology or psyc.....this is actually useful info............................i hope tghat if nothing elese this eases you in knowing you are not alone!!!!!!

best of luck to you, lets make these last few weeks count!!!!

( i know, i am cheesy!)

There is no easy way to study pharm. It took me years to remember which drugs go with what dz/condition as a pharm tech. Even while in nursing school, I still cant remember all the drugs. Its very hard, I know. To me, remembering all these drugs comes with experience in working with these drugs I think. Its impossible to remember all the these things, but as you see them being used clinically, you understand more about the drugs and you pick up little important things about the drug. Also, the more u know about patho and the different systems, the more it will make sense. for example, NSAIDS, COXI and steroids all have to be taken with food because they can all cause GI bleeding.. but u have to understand what is it about these drugs than can cause GI bleed.

Are u taking med-surg yet? i think it makes a difference if u know some patho, in which a pharm book does help a lot understanding the patho. Lehne is a good pharm book, it uses the simplest terms on earth... and its made for nurses. sometimes if u understand patho, half of the work is done when it comes to understanding these drugs. the key is to undersand, not memorize! good luck!