[gdsgrl]

Hi, I'm just wondering if anyone out there is suffering as miserably as I am with Pharmocology? I'm drowning in it.
How do you keep up with this? We have only 2 exams and 1 comprehensive final, our Professor doesn't lecture, he calls it the Socrates method of questions and answers, you are supposed to know it all before class then debate about it when you get there. If you ask him a question he yells at you because you should know the material already.
It's horrible.

[lisabeth]

Doesnt sound like a very good professor to me. You can read up on something and still have questions. I loved Pharmacology, but it was very difficult. Hang in there and just do your best. Good luck!!!

Originally Posted by gdsgrl

Hi, I'm just wondering if anyone out there is suffering as miserably as I am with Pharmocology? I'm drowning in it.
How do you keep up with this? We have only 2 exams and 1 comprehensive final, our Professor doesn't lecture, he calls it the Socrates method of questions and answers, you are supposed to know it all before class then debate about it when you get there. If you ask him a question he yells at you because you should know the material already.
It's horrible.

[MALE*RN*777]

Its alot of information thrown at you. When you get into your field of nursing you will focus on those drugs and have just some rememberance of the others. That is why we have nursing drug books. Once you start admin. the medication over and over it will become easier.

[elisabeth]

I was taking pharmacology last semester and dropped it because the instructor's style didn't jibe with my style of learning. He had a midterm and a final and that was all of the possible points in the class.

I'm taking it again this semester online and it's much better.

[Megsd]

Is this Dr. Becker you're talking about? If so, I had him last winter, and trust me, I feel your pain. My advice to you:

Do the reading before you come to class. At the beginning of each chapter are a list of objectives that are answered by the information in the chapter. Write down your answers to the objectives before you come to class. He will tell you you do not really know anything until you write it down, and really, it does work.

The big emphasis in the class is not on memorizing the drugs, but on using information about the drugs to apply it to other situations. I would definitely recommend making flash cards for the drugs he mentions. Focus on the mechanism of action of each drug (especially the cardiac drugs. He likes cardiac drugs). Be able to think through what the drug does and why, and what similar effects you'll see in the body.

Regarding his brash personality: his bark is worse than his bite. If you have questions about something and don't feel comfortable asking in class, approach him after. He really is willing to help you with the information. There should also be a grad student running study sessions. Go to them, at least for the practice exams. They'll give you an idea of what he'll be asking. I actually found him to be kind of funny, despite the fact that he did berate me once or twice in class.

I gotta go to class but I'll check this thread tonight to see if I'm right about my assumption. And feel free to PM me if you have other questions about his class. Good luck!

[gdsgrl]

I guess it is a very small world, yes, it's Dr Becker, and as tough as he is, I like his personality, he is fun, but OMG,he is tough! We have 2 exams and 1 final, you went through it, so you know what I mean. I have done nothing but studied, my brain won't hold all of this info.
I'm so overwhelmed.

[Megsd]

Yes, a small world indeed! And yes, I know what you mean. He's kind of a legend. My old boss took his class 3 times before she passed it. I have met some respiratory therapists in clinical who had him for multiple pharm classes and lectures (usually he'd spend the first 10 minutes of each of his lectures complaining about how much he hates respiratory therapists). It *is* possible to do well, but it does take a lot of studying and practice. I can't emphasize enough how important it is to try and apply the drug facts to real situations (which he kind of does in his study questions in class), On the exams you won't see anything like "what's an action of bethanechol", you'll see something wacky like which of the following four patients is the best candidate to be placed on this medication (so you need to know what the drug choices are, what they are used for, what they are contraindicated for, etc. etc. etc.).

Just take it one class at a time and try to be thorough in your studying.

[gdsgrl]

Wish me luck, my first exam in Monday at 8 am. I have studied for 2 days, and will do so the next 2 days.

[lisabeth]

Good luck. Study hard and you will do good.

Originally Posted by gdsgrl

Wish me luck, my first exam in Monday at 8 am. I have studied for 2 days, and will do so the next 2 days.

[gdsgrl]

Awe, thank you TexasAngel. I think I may need a few cups of that Starbucks you have. Maybe an IV filled with Expresso.