How many of your schools require a pharmacology class?

[Coruscatedgirl]

I'm struggling through my pharmacology class and I have heard not all schools require it. How many of you are required to take it as part of your course matrix? How did you get through it? I study by classification, and its just not clicking.

[~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN]

From what I heard, there can only be so many hours in the ADN program so they have more and more classes considered a prereq. I read it on this board from a grad from my school. I was wondering why all of these classes were considered prereqs.

That is interesting because I see tons of people posting their schedules that are much lighter then my programs and we are an ASN or ADN program (can't remember which). I know they have to meet certain minimum requirements but I never heard of them not being able to have basic classes like Pharm and still be considered an ADN program. We take 2 full semesters of Pharm a basic and advanced level and pretty much average 15-16 credits (sometimes more but I did all my co reqs prior) a semester and that doesn't include our clinical and lab time. Those that didn't take Patho prior had 20 credits if they did it this semester.

[trae55]

Maybe it depends on your state? I'm in TX and we have to do everything different, even call our program ADN when everyone else calls it ASN (except CA, I believe).

[jrsmrs]

I'm in a BScN program in Canada, and we don't have any pharmacology classes in the program.

[SingDanceRunLife]

We have 3 semesters of it in my program. Each pharm class is 1 credit.

[JStylesNY]

I didn't think that there were any Nursing programs that didn't require pharmacology...

Is there one that doesn't require Anatomy and Physiology??

[~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN]

We have 3 semesters of it in my program. Each pharm class is 1 credit.

So it comes out close to ours, ours are considered 2 credits each (which I could argue but won't LOL) for the 2 semesters.

I didn't think that there were any Nursing programs that didn't require pharmacology...

Is there one that doesn't require Anatomy and Physiology??

I wish!!!

[ShantheRN, BSN, RN]

If there is a school program that allows its students to give meds without basic pharm knowledge, I'd love to see their NCLEX pass rate. I'd also like to know where it is so I can avoid the state and hopefully their graduates. You HAVE to have a basic understanding of meds before giving them to your patient.

As someone mentioned, how are you studying? Is it the generic/trade thing that's getting you, or the mechanisms of the drug? If it's been a while since A&P for you, maybe a quick review of the body system involved would be helpful.

I'm in an associate's program and pharm was a separate class. However, pharm is part of every clinical rotation.

[Coriander, BSN, RN]

I'm in a BSN program, and our pharmacology class is second semester.

[Bobbkat]

It's called ADN in Michigan too.

And for the record, I took pharm as part of my BSN.

[MrsJessica]

The school that I currently go to and the school that I'm transferring to this Fall both require Pharmacology. It's also it's own class in both schools. Good Luck and I hope things get better for you.

[May2011Grad]

I'm in an ASN program and we do not have a separate Pharm class but it is integrated into every class and clinical every semester. Knowing our medications, class, mechanism of action, adverse reactions, and contraindications are a required part of our clinical prep the night before. We are also quizzed prior to passing medications for each patient on the medication.

[nurse4forever]

I am planning on taking Pharmacology and Pathophysiology even though it is not required for an ADN at my community college. Medical terminology isn't required either for the nursing program but it is required for other Health programs at our school. I want to take as many classes as I can to help me pass the NCLEX.