I may not pass Pharm any suggestions on how to do well on tests?

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I attempted to take pharmacology, a nursing course (with clinical) and pathophysiology this summer. I just finished up my nursing course (I passed) and am currently in pharmacology and pathophysiology until the end of July. People I have talked to say if you can understand pathophysiology you can understand pharm.

In my case I am doing well in pathophysiology, but am currently failing pharm. I have tried reading the power points that are given to us, read the book and highlight key points and do all of the hw assignments. For some reason I still cannot pass.

Anyone have any suggestions on how to pass? My pharm class is a hybrid meaning we only show up for tests. I have one more test before the final exam (its on GI).

If I have to retake this class next semester they are raising the passing level from a 75% to an 80%. I currently have a 72% in the course.

rmariee

89 Posts

I'm currently taking pharm and using the a pharm success book really helps me with practice questions. I also use a davis drug guide and look up every medication we need to know and make medication flashcards. I do read the book but i also go to the books website and do practice questions and case studys online. Hopefully this will be helpful to you.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN

1 Article; 20,908 Posts

Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

visit this thread in our FAQ section of the forum....Pharmacology Flashcards

Specializes in Surgical Intensive Care.

I would first of all figure out what you have to make on this last test, and take into consideration what you will have to make on the final. If you learn the GI material and learn it well you will have an advantage on the GI related final test questions; so that will work to your advantage.

Pharmacology is a course that you are going to have to study in repetition. Over and over. This is especially true considering that you are struggling. But go ahead and put in 110% now, and don't think of next semester as a possibility unless you absolutely have to use it as your last resort.

If you can find someone who is doing well in the class, ask them to study with you and ask you questions as you read. It is important to start from the BEGINNING and progress through the subject material. I know it is late in the course and you want to skip to the middle of the chapter to try and get the important information, but if you don't learn "why" or "how" it the medication works you will be wasting your time.

Start from the beginning of each body system chapter the same way. Save the meds that you know for review and also take into consideration the Major meds, and those medications that have a side effect or nursing implication that no other medication has. For instance pyridium will turn your urine bright orange red. Or Dilantin has to be infused through filtered tubing. And even for your upcoming test, think about your patient on metformin that will be going for a procedure that uses contrast....?

What helped me the most in pharmacology was understanding how a body system functions normally....and knowing it well. Then think about why the medication is needed. Going back to GI....think about the medications that we give most often (PPI's, Insulin, Oral hypoglycemics, Lactinex, PO vancomycin, Folic acid, Calcium carbonate, pancreatic enzymes, lets even go as far as IV Albumin). There are many more, of course, but why would a patient need these medications? What in their body is not functioning properly that we need to give them any one of these meds?

For GI, know your insulins inside-out! know onset peak duration; how you mix them; and which cannot be mixed. Know your injection sites, as well as the s/s associated with hyper/hypoglycemia.

Don't wast your time memorizing every name of the medication from the U.S. and Canada. That's not what your instructor wants. They want to know, that you know, how to safely administer, monitor, and educate your patients on what to expect, what is normal, and when it is time to notify the MD yourself because of an adverse reaction, and when to tell your patient to notify their PCP. For instance, they would want you to know to advise patients to take "statin" medication before bedtime because that is when lipid levels tend to increase. Or that it would be best to give a miralax bowel prep with gatorade... .why?.... because they are going to be losing electrolytes from the cleanse. Expanding upon this, lets say your bowel prep patient started at 1700, and one hour later the CNA says to you, "the patient is refusing to drink anymore because it is making them nauseated and they have vomited". Is this a "normal" sign and symptom of miralax bowel prep? Especially when it is consumed quickly?

The say all end all of answering your question is study study study with someone who is doing better than most in the course (if possible) and repeat it until you get to a point that you can teach someone else about these GI medications. When you can start putting in your own "2 cents" and teaching another person about the topic, you are at the point of understanding it.

So I say go for it! learn the craziest side effects for the specific medications and think critically about the body system functionality to guide you for the rest. If you have to, rule out which meds you know are not used for the diagnosis and then break it down.

You will pass if you truly put in 100% for this next test. So stop reading these post and start reading haha!

Good Luck

Reese2012

267 Posts

Thanks everyone. I am sitting right now at a 73.6 for my overall test grade. I will have to take the final which I am dreading because it is over 25 chapters. My goal is to separate drugs into classifications and go from there as far as contraindications, adverse effects, nursing implications and hope for the best.

Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

What helped me pass pharm was the Success Series Pharmacology review, as well as Pharm Phlash cards-AN has really good ones as Esme has posted the link already.

Applying the knowledge to the questions and choosing the best interventions are key is what I found on my tests in Pharm; again, helping me prepare for the test was answering questions in the review book, and it really turned my grade around. :yes:

adnstudent44

78 Posts

use the book "straight A's in nursing" saved me when i was having trouble in pharm, im like a broken record on here always praising it.

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