Freaking out about Pharmacology

NurseFlower · Sep 30, 2005

ok i start pharm tomorrow and i was looking through my book and now i am totally freaked out! i am terrible at math and everything looks so foreign to me. i know people say just know how to convert things, but i am bad at memorization. i am also not allowed to use a calculator. i am stressing bad! :smackingf anyone have any tips or tricks for me? if i don't pass this i am out of my nursing program. thanks in advance! :thankya:

i was freaking too, so far i am at the top in class and making pretty easy a's, and i just knew when we started pharm i'd ruin my average, well we are past our 1st week , and amazingly enough pharm is a snap for me, and i am already way ahead in the book past where we are lecturing and working. i think the difference is, math was required in hs and i wasnt that interested, here, i want to succeed so well, i am older, and so i am focusing more readily. the only thing i have found to worry about is memorizing the formulas and when i have come up with my trick for that i'll post here for you. just relax and take it one step at a time. if your instructor is like mine, she will not advance until everyone has each section down pat, and don't be ashamed to ask her to go over something or take more time on it. wow no calculators, that's hard core, we are allowed to use them since you can on the nclex

CMG85 · Sep 30, 2005

Don't stress out...Its not worth it in the long run...I'm taking pharm as we speak and so far we've had 2 tests and both were easy as long as you take your time.. For the most part there are only a couple calculations that you really use and you'll see what i'm talking about.. other than that just try and remember your conversions.. Not sure if you know this one but "King Hector Died monday drinking chocolate milk." Kilo Heca Deca m=base unit deci centi milli.. Maybe i'm overwhelming you here.. Anyways don't stress out.. if this is your first pharm class it should move fairly steady and i'm sure you'll catch on..

Good luck

-Corey

Achoo!, LPN · Sep 30, 2005

I'm in Pharm now and we aren't doing conversions. That will be taught during med surg I believe. It is just the classes, side effects, nursing interventions etc...

TraumaRN1983 · Sep 30, 2005

I took pharmacology last semester, and for our class we didn't have to do any math, we just learned all the different types of drugs, their mechanisms of action and side effects and so on. Pharmacology truly is a lot of memorization, I thought, so you just kind of have to sit down with your notes and book and go over the drugs again and again until you can remember. I'm sure you will pull through just fine!

pinkdiamonds · Oct 14, 2005

Thank you all for your help! I took my 1st test on dosage calculations. I did Ok. 77% which is passing for my class. I am still having problems with conversions. Any tips on remembering thoses or calculating them? Actually any tricks that you all have would be appreciated! You guys are awesome! Thank you for your help! This board saves my life sometimes!:icon_hug:

GrnHonu99, RN · Oct 14, 2005

notecards are great for pharm:)

Also pay attention in clinical...you learn alot from seeing the drugs perscribed over and over again...youll get to know them...

Also..for the conversion factors for math..ya just got to memorize them..make flashcards again...they are really helpful..the only ones I had a hard time remembering was how many kg/lb and ml in a tsp, but you dont use those as much mcg/g, etc...