Pharmacology

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Dec 3, 2007

I took pharmacology as an online class in the spring semester. Everything was done online including tests. "Lectures" were in PowerPoint files we could download. All we had to do was read the textbook and take the tests. The tests were timed. The only problem I had was that on my first test, my computer went offline (I have dial up service) and locked me out of the test. From then on I took my tests on computers that had a DSL connection to prevent that from happening. The tests were basically open book except that they were timed so you really had to know the stuff because you didn't have much time to look anything up.

CardioTrans, BSN, RN · Dec 4, 2007

First off, don't let anyone tell you that online classes are easier than IN class.

They may appear to be easier because you dont have to go to class, you can do it in your jammies etc.

Online classes take TONS of discipline. You still have deadlines that you have to meet, you still have tests to take, you still have reading to do, you still have lectures to read. Your only communication is through emails or on a bulletin board....every now and then you may have to call your instructor....but you may have to wait for an answer to your question.

The tests may be online and open book, but as Daytonite said...they are usually timed, and they are not "black and white" questions. You will not have time to go through your notes or the book to answer all of the questions. You really have to read the question through to know exactly what is being asked....and then "know your stuff" to do well on the tests.

I have taken many online classes over the past two years working on my graduate degree........ Advanced Pharm and Advanced Patho being two of them......... I think when I started the program they said that for every 1 hour of online lecture, you will spend 4-6 on your own studying/reading/meeting deadlines.

Think about it very carefully before you make the decision and look at yourself about your discipline and all of the distractions that you may have at home.

Good luck in whatever you decide! Pharm is fascinating.

IndyMitchell · Dec 4, 2007

CardioTrans

Think about it very carefully before you make the decision and look at yourself about your discipline and all of the distractions that you may have at home.

thanks for the above ,, I don't really think I can sit and teach myself! You gave great advice thank you and good luck in your schooling.

I am scared to death, I am having soo much trouble with microbiology that it is making me second guess if I can really do the RN program and not fail.?:uhoh3:

tina

krenee · Dec 4, 2007

I took Pharm online, in fact I took all my prereqs online except Chemistry . . . and Pharm wasn't easy by a long shot. In our school, basically it amounts to not having a teacher at all - we have a book, maybe a study guide, and we go take tests at the testing center (no open book here!) It requires a huge amount of self discipline. So it's up to you to decide, but it can't be said enough . . . DO NOT GET BEHIND! It happens with the best of intentions and it's a nightmare. Make a schedule and stick with it.

Good luck with your decision!

Kelly

catzy5 · Dec 4, 2007

I have a question about Pharmacology,

What sort of things do they go over? I have my book already but I don't have an oppurtunity to get the syllabus until a week before school starts.

I would like to start reviewing, what are some of the basics drug names specifically or is it more drug catagories? It's a short term class so I am thinking it isn't going to be the most indepth of my classes.

catzy5 · Dec 4, 2007

I took Pharm online, in fact I took all my prereqs online except Chemistry . . . and Pharm wasn't easy by a long shot. In our school, basically it amounts to not having a teacher at all - we have a book, maybe a study guide, and we go take tests at the testing center (no open book here!) It requires a huge amount of self discipline. So it's up to you to decide, but it can't be said enough . . . DO NOT GET BEHIND! It happens with the best of intentions and it's a nightmare. Make a schedule and stick with it.
Good luck with your decision!
Kelly

I just finished an online class in communications, the discipline part was easy for me, I did end up getting an A. But, what I missed most was being able to communicate with other students (hahaha communication class). In class you build relationships and often when you are confused or need help your first source is the other students. I could email the instructor but sometimes it was simple little things you don't want to bother with, but if I had been in class would have turned and asked someone sitting near me. It was much more confusing then being in a class room. Also the notes were all on powerpoint, I am a highlighter I have to high light as I read, I ended up having to print out all the notes.

I did however like the self paced portion and the open book tests, Our tests were very difficult but I study really well and didn't have too much trouble.

One last thing you are faceless, your instructor really doesn't seem to have to care about you. Not that any of them do, however, in a real class room you build a connection or not with a teacher but you have the oppurtunity. It was alsmost like in our case that the teacher did not have any connection or responsibility to us because he didn't see us. We wrote several papers and they were all graded arebitraily we never saw why we got the grade we got or where our errors were, it was just so very impersonal.

nyapa, RN · Dec 4, 2007

I did pharmacology as an external subject. I have previously studied internally, and I too believe that expectations of external students are high. I had to do alot more reading, as well as do the assigned work that internal students did. Plus the exams. While I had the same deadlines, I still enjoyed the flexibility. And I believe that I had more information to study from in the long run...

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Dec 4, 2007

I have a question about Pharmacology,
What sort of things do they go over? I have my book already but I don't have an oppurtunity to get the syllabus until a week before school starts.
I would like to start reviewing, what are some of the basics drug names specifically or is it more drug catagories? It's a short term class so I am thinking it isn't going to be the most indepth of my classes.

If you already have the textbook, then you have what is going to be the class in your hand. You will most likely read and study the textbook and be asked questions on tests about what is in the book. Most pharmacology classes are pretty much the drugs classifications, how they work on the systems of the body and what they do for the person. They usually give you some lists of the types of drugs included in those categories, but you don't usually have to start learning specific dosages until you get into your actual nursing classes and start working with patients who are receiving these kinds of drugs.

catzy5 · Dec 4, 2007

If you already have the textbook, then you have what is going to be the class in your hand. You will most likely read and study the textbook and be asked questions on tests about what is in the book. Most pharmacology classes are pretty much the drugs classifications, how they work on the systems of the body and what they do for the person. They usually give you some lists of the types of drugs included in those categories, but you don't usually have to start learning specific dosages until you get into your actual nursing classes and start working with patients who are receiving these kinds of drugs.

Thanks,

The book was just so large I was trying to find the main points we start off on so I can get a jump start. This isn't a pre req course we take it inconjunction with out nursing classes, it's a combo dosage pharm course for 6 weeks.

deleern · Dec 4, 2007

I wouldn't say that they are easier. It is the same information as the class room. you have to be very dedicated and diciplined. Some subjects do not lend them selves well to the online format. my opinion for myself is, if it is a difficult concept for me it would be tough for me to take chemesty online as I had way to many questions.

I did most of my LPN and the pre-Reqs for RN...(exept for chemestry) on line. that way I could Cut down on my time at the campus and still work Full time. I'm going to do the Balance of my RN - Masters that way.... this time the only course that i could do on line but know that I will have to do in the class room is statistics.

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Dec 4, 2007

catzy5. . .I'm looking at the PowerPoint lectures I still have on a flashdrive from the class and they were pretty well organized. We started out with general information about how drugs in general affect the body and then went into

Autonomic Nervous System Drugs (this was probably the most confusing for everyone and is usually the first group covered in every pharmacology class!)
Drugs affecting the Central Nervous System (sedatives, hypnotics, antipsychotics, antianxiety, antidepressants, psychomotor stimulants, psychomimetrics, antiepileptics, antiparkisonians, general anesthetics, opiods and non-opiods)
Pharmacology of the Heart (cardiac glycosides, treatment of congestive heart failure and MIs, antiarrhythmics, and antianginals)
Pharmacology of the Vascular and Renal Systems (diuretics, antihypertensives, sympathetic blocking agents, vasodilators, calcium antagonists, ACE inhibitors, anticoagulants, coagulants, thrombolytic agents, statins, antianemics)
Nutrition and Therapy (vitamins, minerals, lipids and electrolytes)
Pharmacology of the Respiratory System (don't have that PowerPoint)
Pharmacology of the GI System (don't have that PowerPoint)
Pharmacology of the Endocrine System (adrenal steroids, gonadal hormones, drugs affecting thyroid/parathyroid and bone degeneration, pancreatic hormones, antidiabetic drugs, pituitary hormones, drugs affecting the uterus)
Pharmacology of Infectious Diseases (antibacterials, antifungals, antivirals, AIDS, antiprotozoals, antihelmintics, antiseptics, disinfectants)
Antineoplastics/Immune System Drugs (chemotherapeutic agents, immunosuppressive and immunostimulant drugs)

The course was basic overviews of how the various drug classes work on these body systems to produce their effects and correct various disease conditions that occurred in those body systems. It was like the underlying pathophysiology and how the drug worked to correct it. This is an important component in understanding why drugs are ordered for certain conditions that patients have.

I am willing to e-mail the PowerPoint lectures I do have, but they are on PDF files and usually take several e-mails in order to send them. Also, the focus of my course was for ICD-9 medical diagnosis coding, not nursing so nursing implications are not there. However, the basics pertaining to some of the medical diseases is there, particularly the more common medical diseases that you are going to see time and time again in hospital patients. You also need to keep in mind that these lectures were made by a coding instructor, not a nursing instructor, but they still have very good information on them. Send me a PM if you are interested in having them.