Brand spankin' new nursing student! Pharmacology advice, please!

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Specializes in Emergency Room.
:nailbiting: Hello! I am starting nursing school in 3 weeks (August 26th). I have heard HORROR STORIES about pharmacology! I am on the campus so the classes are not online. I hear this class is one of the hardest to take! I would love to hear from former nursing students/nurses who found ways to be successful in this particular course. It would be much appreciated! Thank you :yes:
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Following! I too have heard the horror stories... ugh!

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

take a deep breath....what makes this difficult for students is that all schools require a near 100% passing grade because in the real world....mistakes with patients meds is NOT allowed...not even one....period.

Here are a couple of web site you might find helpful.

DosageHelp.com - Helping Nursing Students Learn Dosage Calculations

http://www.davesems.com/files/drug_d...lculations.pdf

Know your conversions

The Short List 1 cup © = 8 ounces (oz)

1 dram (dr) = 60 grains (gr)

1 dram (fl dr) = 60 minims

1 gallon (gal) = 4 quarts (qt)

1 glass = 8 ounces (oz)

1 grain (gr) = 64.8 milligrams (mg)

1 gram (g) = 15.43 grains (gr)

1 inch (in) = 2.54 centimeters (cm)

1 kilogram (kg) = 2.2 pounds (lb)

1 liter (L) = 1.057 quarts (qt)

1 milliliter (mL) = 16.23 minims

1 minim = 1 drop (gt)

1 ounce (oz) = 2 tablespoons (tbsp)

1 ounce (oz) = 8 drams (dr)

1 ounce (fl oz) = 29.57 milliliters (mL)

1 pint (pt) = 16 ounces (oz)

1 pound (lb) = 16 ounces (oz)

1 quart (qt) = 0.946 liters (L)

1 quart (qt) = 2 pints (pt)

1 tablespoon (tbsp) = 3 teaspoons (tsp)

1 teacup = 6 ounces (oz)

1 teaspoon (tsp) = 4.93 mL

The Long list

1 central = 45,359 grams (g)

1 centimeter (cm) = 10 millimeters (mm)

1 cubic centimeter (cc) = 1 milliliter (mL)

1 cup © = 8 ounces (oz)

1 drachm = 3.55 milliliter (mL)

1 dram (dr) = 60 grains (gr)

1 dram (fl dr) = 60 minims

1 gallon (gal) = 4 quarts (qt)

1 gill = 4 ounces (oz)

1 glass = 8 ounces (oz)

1 grain (gr) = 64.8 milligrams (mg)

1 gram (g) = 1,000 milligrams (mg)

1 gram (g) = 1,000,000 micrograms (mcg)

1 gram (g) = 15.43 grains (gr)

1 hand = 4 inches (in)

1 inch (in) = 2.54 centimeters (cm)

1 kilogram (kg) = 1,000 grams (g)

1 kilogram (kg) = 2.2 pounds (lb)

1 liter (L) = 1000 milliliters (mL)

1 liter (L) = 1.057 quarts (qt)

1 meter (m) = 1,000 millimeters (mm)

1 meter (m) = 100 centimeters (cm)

1 milligram (mg) = 1,000 micrograms (mcg)

1 milliliter (mL) = 1 cubic centimeter (cc)

1 milliliter (mL) = 15 drops (gt)

1 milliliter (mL) = 16.23 minims

1 minim = 1 drop (gt)

1 ounce (fl oz) = 2 tablespoons (tbsp)

1 ounce (oz) = 20 pennyweights (dwt)

1 ounce (oz) = 24 scruples

1 ounce (oz) = 31.1 grams (g)

1 ounce (oz) = 480 grains (gr)

1 ounce (oz) = 8 drams (dr)

1 ounce, fluid (fl oz) = 29.57 milliliters (mL)

1 palm = 3 inches (in)

1 pennyweight (dwt) = 24 grains (gr)

1 pint (pt) = 16 ounces (oz)

1 pint (pt) = 4 gills

1 pound (lb) = 16 ounces (oz)

1 pound (lb) = 350 scruples

1 quart (qt) = 0.946 liters (L)

1 quart (qt) = 2 pints (pt)

1 scruple = 20 grains (gr)

1 stone = 0.14 cents

1 tablespoon (tbsp) = 3 teaspoons (tsp)

1 teacup = 6 ounces (oz)

1 teaspoon (tsp) = 60 drops (gtt)

1 teaspoon (tsp) = 4.93 mL

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Watch for patterns... many beta blockers end in "-olol" lipid lowering medications end in "-statin".

Do not try to memorize lists of side effects. (1) know that most Rx cause nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea (2) learn HOW the medication works, then you can sometime figure out the side effects (3) Many drug books have conflicting side effects, again, do not get too hung up on side effects UNLESS you are taught the signs and symptoms of overdose or under-dose. (4) don't. just. memorize.

I really liked my pharm class, I studied a lot for it, but the work I put in, during the class has helped me throughout nursing school.

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Try to learn the overall classifications, and the endings. Some of the nursing notes have the most common used endings and their classifications. Memorize them. Also, you will see a short list of the most common drugs and antidotes, memorize them with the classification.

See if you can get a list of nclex drugs in a chart has brief description and most common side effects. Hurst puts one out, and Feuer has a cd for pharm.

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Specializes in Emergency Room.
Watch for patterns... many beta blockers end in "-olol" lipid lowering medications end in "-statin".

Do not try to memorize lists of side effects. (1) know that most Rx cause nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea (2) learn HOW the medication works, then you can sometime figure out the side effects (3) Many drug books have conflicting side effects, again, do not get too hung up on side effects UNLESS you are taught the signs and symptoms of overdose or under-dose. (4) don't. just. memorize.

I really liked my pharm class, I studied a lot for it, but the work I put in, during the class has helped me throughout nursing school.

Thank you! Very helpful!

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Just took a month long pharm and finished with a 97%. It is doable, please do not over stress. My best advice is to study Classifications instead of individual drugs. There are just too many and that will sink you by itself. Another thing I did was drug cards. Not the little tiny ones but the very big flashcards 6x8 (i think), please make them yourself. So many people bought the pre-made cards and did very poorly at studying them. I agree with not spending too much time on side effects, but what I did was study any very "strange" side effects or any life threatening side effects. ie: decreased respiration/heartrate, increased bleeding or high risk for anaphylaxis. That is what your instructor wants to know, vomitting will not kill someone immediately, their throat swelling closed will. Learn your rights of administration, anyone I have ever spoken to has had that as a short answer or demonstration during a Pharm/clinical class. Good Luck.

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Specializes in Hospice.

I heard the same about A & P, and now that I have that behind me, I am fretting over starting pharm in a few weeks.:nailbiting:

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Specializes in Emergency Room.
Just took a month long pharm and finished with a 97%. It is doable please do not over stress. My best advice is to study Classifications instead of individual drugs. There are just too many and that will sink you by itself. Another thing I did was drug cards. Not the little tiny ones but the very big flashcards 6x8 (i think), please make them yourself. So many people bought the pre-made cards and did very poorly at studying them. I agree with not spending too much time on side effects, but what I did was study any very "strange" side effects or any life threatening side effects. ie: decreased respiration/heartrate, increased bleeding or high risk for anaphylaxis. That is what your instructor wants to know, vomitting will not kill someone immediately, their throat swelling closed will. Learn your rights of administration, anyone I have ever spoken to has had that as a short answer or demonstration during a Pharm/clinical class. Good Luck.[/quote']

Thank you for the advice and I will definitely make flash cards for these. I will have to get on them early because the flash card making process takes a while! Thank you!

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

From another member of AN!

♪♫ in my ♥

15

Greetings.

Attached are 12 Word documents which I made when I took pharmacology. All the information was based on the ATI study guide since that constituted the final exam in our class.

They are formatted as 3x5 cards and were printed on individual 3x5 cards.

Have at 'em if you think they'll help... they certainly worked for me.

Again, they are entirely my own creation based on the information out of the ATI book. I make no promises as to their accuracy (though I rocked pharm so they couldn't be too bad).

Feedback is welcome.

Attached Files

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Specializes in Emergency Room.
From another member of AN!

Wow awesome thank you!!!!

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Specializes in Emergency Room.
From another member of AN!

I looked over all that you sent me and I am entirely grateful!!!! :) it's awesome! Not sure how to print it out but I will keep it on my kindle and laptop :)

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