Do You Feel Adequately Prepared to Enter the Field?

[ChristineN, BSN, RN]

I am currently half-way done with an FNP program, set to start clinicals in the fall. So while I obviously have some classes yet, I am still shocked at how poor prepared I feel some of the classes I am taking are making me. I am just finishing up Pharmocology. Very little was discussed about dosing medications, and several groups of meds (ie cardiac and psych) the teacher admitted that she was basically teaching us the same level of info that the undergrad students get. The focus of my class seems to be more on side effects and drug interactions than anything, and while important, I feel I need to know more than that to be prescribing medication to people.

I do understand that clinicals will help me feel more prepared. I am just worried when I start clinicals it will be a ton of stuff to learn at once since I am not learning it now.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

You will stil come out of school with a learning curve - that's just the way it is. Pharm should focus on drug interactions, side effects. Dosing is honestly the easiest part. The WHY you are giving it is much harder.

For me, I wish I had known more about antibiotics and antibiotic resistance. Also, drug interactions are a biggie for my (nephrology) pts as many of my pts (even my teens) are on multiple meds.

Another subject that I wished had been covered better was how to use technology to dose meds.

PLEASE DON'T COUNT ON EPOCRATES or just any old dosing program.

[mammac5]

Yes I felt prepared and yes I had a LOT to learn on my first job.

[Psychcns]

Side effects and drug interactions are important. I think in your clinicals you will learn how to choose meds. Psych is a specialty-unless you are a Psychnp it is likely best to Learn some basics and refer. I found my first couple of years of prescribing very stressful and I learned a lot. Now I have my own approaches and feel good about my interventions. It took a while to feel comfortable..and I still read and study a lot.... Best wishes..

[ChristineN, BSN, RN]

You will stil come out of school with a learning curve - that's just the way it is. Pharm should focus on drug interactions, side effects. Dosing is honestly the easiest part. The WHY you are giving it is much harder.

For me, I wish I had known more about antibiotics and antibiotic resistance. Also, drug interactions are a biggie for my (nephrology) pts as many of my pts (even my teens) are on multiple meds.

Another subject that I wished had been covered better was how to use technology to dose meds.

PLEASE DON'T COUNT ON EPOCRATES or just any old dosing program.

We have talked about antibiotic resistance and the antibiogram some. However even with antibiotics the focus was side effects as "how to prescribe will vary by practice."

Minus the major drug interactions I am just being told to check pts meds against drug guides or ask a pharmacist once in clinicals to assess for drug interactions.

I know it is a lot of information that needs to be covered in 1 semester. My teacher has said there are topics she used to cover that she just doesn't feel she has time to cover anymore, like drugs used for conscious sedation or an intro to chemotherapy.

[ChristineN, BSN, RN]

Side effects and drug interactions are important. I think in your clinicals you will learn how to choose meds. Psych is a specialty-unless you are a Psychnp it is likely best to Learn some basics and refer. I found my first couple of years of prescribing very stressful and I learned a lot. Now I have my own approaches and feel good about my interventions. It took a while to feel comfortable..and I still read and study a lot.... Best wishes..

Psych may be a specialty, but as an FNP and the focus being primary care, many people go to their primary care provider for anti-depressants and anti-anxiety drugs, which, I could easily be prescribing.

Do any of ya'll have any advice on books/materials I could read while on Christmas break to help me feel more prepared?