Classes started yesterday......

I am finding theory this semester to be much more difficult than patho and pharm. not to say that they weren't tough.

Well, I just dropped my research class. I had no trouble last semester with Patho and Theory really (theory was a lot of paper writing, but doable). For some reason the combo of pharm and research was just too much. I don't have any time limit on graduating and I realized if I kept up the pace I was going that I was going to miss a LOT of my daughter's best years.

We have our first pharm exam next week, which is actually our midterm. We turn in weekly assignments for grades, so that helps. Stats, is well, stats.

This summer I have to take Nursing Research/Grad Stats and Patho. Then actually begin the FNP classes in Aug.

I told my husband just yesterday that its hard to believe that I have been in the program a year in May. 2 more to go!

Hey guys, I'm going to be in an MSN program this fall to be an adult acute care NP (will take an elective class in oncology nursing this May too) and I was wondering-what do you learn in the advanced pharm class that you weren't taught in basic pharm for your undergrad nursing degree? Is there mostly more emphasis on how you would decide which meds to prescribe? I can't wait to start my program and am excited to hear all about these classes. :) Thanks!

-Christine

Hey guys, I'm going to be in an MSN program this fall to be an adult acute care NP (will take an elective class in oncology nursing this May too) and I was wondering-what do you learn in the advanced pharm class that you weren't taught in basic pharm for your undergrad nursing degree? Is there mostly more emphasis on how you would decide which meds to prescribe? I can't wait to start my program and am excited to hear all about these classes. :) Thanks!

-Christine

Well, I've been out of school for > 10 years, so for me it is relearning the drugs again (memory part) AND learning the chemical specifics ..the WHY and the HOW and not just the what. Much more than rote memory (which is what I recall from undergrad pharm.)

Well, I've been out of school for > 10 years, so for me it is relearning the drugs again (memory part) AND learning the chemical specifics ..the WHY and the HOW and not just the what. Much more than rote memory (which is what I recall from undergrad pharm.)

Exactly!! The why alleve works on menstrual cramps, the how of NSAIDs affect the kidneys, the why of why does a patient who gets ativan wake up, then get sleepy, then wake up, then get sleepy again off one dose............

Definitely things that should have been taught in undergrad. Of course I have been a nurse for 11 yrs, so it may be taught now.......but 11 yrs ago it wasnt.

In our advanced pharm class, just as the other posters mentioned, we learned the "why" and "how" of how certain classes of drugs worked. For some reason the drug names, etc. seemed easier to remember now since I have had to hand them out everyday as an RN.. The first time I took pharm it was if the teacher was speaking another language and it was much more rote memorization.

I found that in advanced pharm there was a lot more emphasis on case study scenarios, interactions, etc....to make us apply the knowledge and think critically. I recall my first pharm to be a lot more memorization. Incidentally I had never been a note card person but became one in advanced pharm

Well, mid term is over. Still havent found out our grade. Its killing me too. When we turn in our weekly assignments, we have a grade within 24 hrs. The instructors said that they were evaluating the test to see if any questions were going to be thrown out.

78 questions and 3 1/2 hr time limit. Whewww what a test.

How is everyone???

Doing ok, here. I've had one exam, a paper, and a presentation for pharm so far and I've been happy so far.

For my family systems class, we've had one paper due that we haven't received our grade for yet. Maybe tonight we'll get it back (:hoping:).

This is interesting THREAD! I just recently got accepted into a FNP program for Fall 2011. I've heard HORROR STORIES of taking Adv.Patho & Adv.Pharm at the same time or either of these with Adv. Assessment.

I was thinking of taking Theory & Adv.Assessment (1st semester), then Research & Adv. Patho (2nd semester), and Adv.Pharm & Adv.Nursing Role (3rd semester). What do any former or current NP students feel about this CLASS COLLOBORATION?

IF YOU COULD DO IT OVER....which classes would you take TOGETHER & which would you take SEPARATE?

I just finished my first year in a FNP program. I took advanced patho and theory together the first semester. I took advanced pharm and health care policy together the second semester. It was doable, but I'm not working so I was able to devote 30+ hours a week to school and still have a life. I wouldn't take patho, pharm or assessment together. Pair them with one of the other core courses. Take patho before pharm. It will make pharm so much easier to understand.

Sue