How to pass Pharm125??

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Specializes in HOSPICE, GERIACTRICS AND CICU.

Hey everyone,

So I am starting the nursing program this fall and all I have heard are HORROR stories about pharmacology 125-especially regarding my particular instructor. We have been told to get our books as early as possible and review-we have even been given chapters to review in the pharm book. Unfortunatly for me, (and other students who need financial aid) our book award dose not kick in until one week prior to the begining of class, and you can only purchase the books in a package for 700+ dollars. Oh, by the way, you cannot buy the books and then use to book award to repay your funds, so it dosnt look like I'll be getting the book until they release my funds.

Does anyone out there have any tips, pointers, words of advise, ANYTHING that will help a student to be successful in pharm(its our first semester pharm) that I could maybe start doing now or tips to help me through the semester?

Any positive feedback would be lovely! I've had enough of the negative feedback! lol:)

By the way, I am not looking for an easy way out and I can accept a challenge but I would just like some tips from other students or nurses who were successful in pharm125 :)

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Specializes in Critical Care, Emergency Medicine, Flight.

why is everyone so afraid of pharm. its like the easiest class ever.

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Is it possible to share with someone in your program that already has their book?

Can you go to the school library and see if they have a copy of this book (or something similar) to check out so you can start going over the chapters?

Can you go to Barnes and Noble or Borders to get a review of Pharm (like Pharm Made Incredibly Easy)?

I know money is tight so if you can share and/or check with the local/school library that might help you out until your funds are released. You may be able to pick up a comparable book on Craigslist for cheaper too. Where there's a will, there's a way!

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Specializes in HOSPICE, GERIACTRICS AND CICU.

So you think it would be helpful to review a pharm book thats comparable even if its not the same? I am willing to spend $50 bucks if it means it will help me make it through the course-it seems like a wise investment-but I wasnt sure how each edition varies. But i guess a basic pharm book should work well....?

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I think you will be fine. I don't think reviewing would help you now. The problem with pharm, for me at least, is not understanding the concepts it was memorizing all of the drugs and what they did. You really just have to work on that one test at a time. I think reviewing now would just take up time and you really wouldn't remember much once the actual subject matter comes up.

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Specializes in ER, progressive care.

STUDY STUDY STUDY! Do not slack off! I don't think there is an easy way to remember pharm - you just have to keep studying the material until you know it. Flashcards help. What may also help is learning the suffixes of the drugs (for example, beta blockers generally end in -lol or -olol, ace inhibitors end in -pril, etc etc etc) and learn the prototype drug for each class. Know the ADR's and nursing implications with the prototype and then you will have a good idea about those with other drugs in the same class.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

Memorize the receptors. Any drug that affects a given receptor is going to have the same potential action on the body. If you know what receptors a drug affects, you then have a "code" automatically for some of the drugs effects and some of its side effects.

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I copy and pasted my response to someone also questioning Pharmacology:

"Our teacher told us to read each chapter THREE times. So I did, and it helped tremendously. If I came across information I had a hard time understanding, instead of just reading through the chapter, I would analyze every single sentence, visualize, take notes in my book, draw it out, and use my A&P book when needed. Sometimes I would end up reading parts of a chapter maybe 5 or 6 times until I understood it.

Are you writing up drug cards? Writing my own drug cards helped me to the point that I barely had to reference my drug cards.

Understanding pharmacology, in my opinion, is understanding the way the body utilizes characteristics of the drug (capsule, injection, sublingual, etc...), the potential side effects based on what the drug is targeting, and contraindications. Even my own doctor has to reference his drug book.

It's a tough course. It's one of those classes where it seems you have to submerge yourself.

Be the essence of perseverance--that's what I used to tell myself when things got tough. "

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Pharm was a very difficult class for me. Not so much because the information was difficult, just because there was soooo much of it. I took it this summer and got a pretty good grade in it, but I am very glad its done with. I don't know how close your tests will be to what I had, but our first test was fairly easy. It covered things like pregnancy categories, DEA drug classes, patient "rights" (meaning right does, right route, right med, etc), and then tyelnol and NSAID's. I would think most classes would cover these things and there is tons of information online. If I were you I would ask what is going to be on the first test (what types of meds) and then use an online resource to get you started. The merek website is very very helpful. You can also look for commercials for some meds, the advertising made it a little easier for me to remember some of the info and if you visit a drugs website you can look at the provider and patient information packets as well.

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you can start studying now- review antibotics, diabetic meds, psych meds, inhalers, etc. pick a topic each week to review and take notes on -Good luck!

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Repetition, repetition! I made flash cards out of every slide. Don't read the whole textbook straight through; just focus on what you need to know and keep it very basic. Also, Mosby's pharmacology flashcards with cartoon drawings helped me remember pharm facts.

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Mosby's Pharmacology Memory NoteCards (ISBN: 9780323053065) is fantastic in helping with pharmacology!!!

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