Does everyone feel overwhelmed???

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:uhoh3:I am a 34 Single woman with no children trying to finish my core classes so I can apply for nursing school next fall. I can do it as long as I continue to pass my core classes as I do not want to apply until then. I work a full time job and am not sure how people that work multiple jobs or that have children do it! I'm about ready to pull my hair out!

I am currently taking Pharmacology online as a summer course. Everyone kept telling me....it's so easy!! Who are they kidding! Trying to remember all the drugs, what their interactions are with other drugs and side effects, etc, etc, etc....is extremely difficult. :o I find myself flipping through the book and reading everything over again while I'm taking my test.

I keep thinking I can't do this!! :uhoh21: My boyfriend has been really standing behing me and tells me every day how smart and beautiful I am, and that I can do anything as long as I put my heart into it. I want to believe he is right, but how do I really know?

Has anyone else felt like quitting? Is this going to be worth it in the end?

Thanks - Jo (txnurse1972 - trying to get an Associates in Nursing):uhoh3:

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as long as it's what you really want then it will be worth it in the end.best of luck to you.

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I am begining my Pharm class this Tuesday and I am anticipating it to be extremely difficult. I think what most people mean when they say pharm is "easy" is that it's mostly pure memorization.

Have you discovered your learning style? What I mean is auditory, visual, etc. I find that I am a visual learner, so when it comes to a class like pharm which is mostly memorization with not much to visualize, I find it harder to get all the info into my brain!

Here's what I plan to do to get thru the course based upon my ideas and some that others have offered.

1. make flashcards - and play games with them! ex. these are all NSAIDS, diuretics, cholinesterase inhibitors, etc.

2. record myself reading the cards and then play it back while speaking out loud as I talk along with the recording

3. use mnemonics - ex. mannitol = osmotic diuretic

These are just a few that come to mind but I'm sure I will figure out other ways to make it easier to remember!

Good Luck...you can do it! :icon_hug:

p.s. No, I have not felt like quitting because I know that no matter how hard it gets, I will do whatever it takes to succeed because... it IS worth it in the end!

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Wow! Maybe that's my problem! I don't have a very good study habit. I read, and I read, and I read, but I don't absorb the information. I used flashcards for A&P I and II, but I'm not sure why I didn't even think to do that with Pharma. I guess it's because it's an online course which is all new to me! I will definitely make some adjustments in my study habits and see if that helps!

:smackingf

Thanks!

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Specializes in Pulmonology/Critical Care, Internal Med.

It is worth it. If you want it this bad keep with it. Yes there was a time that I wanted to stop and here I am now about 4 to 5 months from graduation. Just keep with it, it does get better, but it always gets worse before it gets better.

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Specializes in Neuro.

Flash cards for pharm can save you. :) And try to learn them by drug class, it will make it easier to remember all the differences. And try to learn and understand how the drugs work because this will tell you a lot about what the drug is used to treat, what side effects to look for and other things.

Good luck!

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I am going to work on putting them on idex cards (the colored ones on rings) this weekend! I think it would help me tremendously!!

Thank you to everyone for your tips and your positive responses!

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Specializes in Critical Care.

I took Pharm online. I didn't think it was easy at all and most of my classmates didn't think so either. Not even sure why anyone would say it was easy. I do know though that some students had it 'easier' than others. It depended on the teacher. I had a cummulative final in my pharm online class but others who had a different teacher at the same school and same semester didn't have a cummulative final, just the last test. I did pass it and you will too if you hang in there. If you are up to pharm you probably have done a lot of other classes and you passed them. I did work full time when I took pharm and also had physiology and nutrition online at the same time. It about killed me but I got through it and am now in nursing school. You are not alone. You may also try asking the teacher for pointers on how or what to study. Since it's an online class they never get to see the students and I bet would welcome some online interaction from you. They've been teaching for a while so they should have some good pointers. I also use the flashcards and can study in places like waiting in line or even at a stop light. 1 or 2 cards each time makes a big difference when you at it all up. And since you only concentrate on a little info at a time it seems to stick in your head better. I also have older relatives who take a lot of medications so I would think about them and what they take and how they respond and that would help me on some of them. Kind of personalizes the meds and helps you remember. Good luck. Don't give up.

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Specializes in Neuro.

Hi jojo,

I am a mom of 4 who worked full time while taking 15 hours my first 2 semesters, and I can tell you that some days was overwhelming and I thought many times about giving up, but, I am 46 days from starting school for my ADN, with Pharm as one of my 1st semester classes that will be online for the first time and I am already very nervous about it!! All I can say is what others have said. Make and become best friends with flashcards!! That is what saved me in Micro when I failed the first 4 tests!!! They worked so well for me that the next 2 tests and the final brought my grade up to an 87!!!

Good luck~

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Specializes in Corrections, neurology, dialysis.

I'm curious about who is telling you pharm is easy. It is one of the hardest classes I've ever taken!

I took it twice - failed it the first time. The second time around our professor required us to make drug cards - just 10 - as a homework assignemnt. That was the best thing I could have ever done!! I've been making drug cards ever since and I use them all the time. The light really went on when I made the drug card. But maybe it's me - I learn best when I write things down.

Best of luck to you. The fact that you came here to talk about your problem means you care enough to want to do well. That's the biggest part of the battle.

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I definitely do care, and I really want to do well. I think the advice that everyone has provided me well inspire me and give me that needed push. I currently have a low A in the class, so I'm doing good, I just feel like I should be retaining more then I am. I am probably being overly critical where I don't need to be.

blessed061987 - Use the advise that everyone has given me here, and I will use yours for Micro. I am taking it in the fall and it seems that if I continue to study the way I did for my A&P classes, that I will do fine! Flashcards, Flashcards, Flashcards!!

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I spent 95% of my first year feeling incredibly overwhelmed. My best comfort was knowing it wasn't just me. I had to work harder than I've worked on anything. School comes easy for me. I'm normally able to pick up concepts fast but it wasn't the case with nursing. I survived and you can too. Stay focused and organized, if you find that one technique doesn't work, don't spend time trying to make it work, move to something new. Find what works best for you.

Good luck, it is possible, remember that.:)

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