Question for BSN students re: Pharmacology

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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Hi all!

I just found out last week that I've been accepted into the BSN program at USF. This means I'm closer to my goal of working as a nursing educator in a community college.

I was told that this summer I can actually take a couple of courses before actually starting the program in the fall. I've decided to take the Pharmacology course and a nursing ethics class, both which are required.

My question is: What is covered in the pharmacology course? I know that in the ADN programs, pharmacology is covered within the fundamentals portion, not separately like the BSN program.

TIA,

Kris

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I just graduated with my BSN in nursing.

Pharmacology basically went through different types of drugs, their major classes (such as heart medication, it covered ACE inhibitor, Beta blockers, calcium channel blockers...) and different brand names.

Then we covered what they were typically prescribed for and how they worked in the body, typical doses and administration, theraputic levels, side effects (including labs that would be indicated), any drug/food interactions... I think that was about it. Basically, if you open up a nursing drug book, that's what we had to know.

The part that was focused on most was how the drug worked in the body, therefore we were required to have pathophysiology before this class... Have you taken a class similar to this? If offered, I think it would be very benefical to take before pharm.

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Specializes in Home Health Care.
:twocents: Not all ADN classes are incorporated into a fundamentals class. :wink2: I'm in an ADN program and ours is also seperate, it consists of the same details the above poster described. :yeahthat:
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the part that was focused on most was how the drug worked in the body, therefore we were required to have pathophysiology before this class... have you taken a class similar to this? if offered, i think it would be very benefical to take before pharm.

hi smiles13, thanks for the response. so you definitely suggest the pathophysiology first? according to the college catalog, it isn't required that you take it before pharmacology. i do, however, want to succeed. the only thing is, i don't want to take an online pharmacology class,so if i don't take it in the summer, i'll have to wait until next spring. technically, i would be required to take pharm during my second semester (which next spring will be), but i had hoped to be a little ahead.

during pathophysiology, did you start to learn about pharmacology at all?

thanks in advance,

kris:rolleyes:

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Specializes in OB, lactation.

We took patho first, but our patho teacher didn't know about drugs. He'd always say "oh, you'll have to ask about that in pharm" or whatever. He was a really great and knowledgeable teacher but pharm just wasn't his interest.

At the same time, I don't think there would have been any harm in taking pharm first. Only thing I can think of is when will you start passing meds in clinical? I took pharm last year and I am just going to be starting to pass meds in the next few weeks, so it isn't exactly fresh in my memory.

Our pharm class (I'm at another FL state university btw) went right by the Kee & Hayes Pharmacology book:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0721693458/qid=1107704818/sr=8-2/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i2_xgl14/002-5772949-4602425?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

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thanks, mitchsmom. according to the course outlay, the normal time to take pharm would be the same semester as med/surg i.

thanks for the link. where are you going to school? i'm headed for usf in tampa.

kris

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hi smiles13, thanks for the response. so you definitely suggest the pathophysiology first? according to the college catalog, it isn't required that you take it before pharmacology. i do, however, want to succeed. the only thing is, i don't want to take an online pharmacology class,so if i don't take it in the summer, i'll have to wait until next spring. technically, i would be required to take pharm during my second semester (which next spring will be), but i had hoped to be a little ahead.

during pathophysiology, did you start to learn about pharmacology at all?

thanks in advance,

kris:rolleyes:

i would not take pharm. over the internet if you really want to understand it, or you learn well that way! we did not cover pharm in patho, but i do not think you need pharm until at least med/surg. i think patho is so important! good luck however you decide.

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Thank you for your responses. I think that I will wait on the pharm and take the pathophysiology in the summer instead.

Kris

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Specializes in NICU/Neonatal transport.

At my school (I'm getting my MSN) we have to take pharm before patho. Pharm is actually a prereq

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