No Pharmacology class!!!!

beth66335, BSN, RN · Feb 3, 2008

Check out the "Incredibly Easy series" they have a book on Pharm that is very simple and easy to follow. We had a Pharm course 1st semester and this helped a lot! It is also a great reference book.

WDWpixieRN, RN · Feb 3, 2008

I personally would not attend a school who doesn't do this. I would contact the nursing admin and find out if it is part of another class you are taking. If not, I would head for the hills. Meds are a HUGE part of being an RN. Good luck passing the NCLEX without knowing meds......
Just me and what I'd do

That's sometimes easier said than done when you're looking at schools. Not everyone can afford nor qualify for university educations where I believe this is more often taught as a separate course. I don't think as a future student, I would eliminate schools based on this criteria alone nor would I encourage someone else to do that same. There's too many factors, that combined, make for a good school or a bad school.

My CC has had over a 95% pass rate for the NCLEX for years, which is why I don't feel that statement is necessarily true. I think it's just more unnerving for some of us not to have had this class separately. It's interesting to note that many who have already posted indicate they had the class very early on but don't feel like the information stuck.

I DO think it's important for future students to note that meds ARE very important to learn, whether it's done as a separate class, incorporated in to your studies, or self-study.

marilynmom, LPN, NP · Feb 3, 2008

I do think that every nursing program should have a pharm class because meds are a big deal (dosages, classes, overdosing, etc). Also because pharm is such a big deal on the NCLEX now. Meds are such a BIG deal for RNs and RNs are the last defense against harming the patient.

I'm in a BSN program and we had a separate pharm class for 16 weeks (yes it helps--we had an awesome class taught by a pharmacist who knew what RNs needed to know) and also meds were included with each and every class (med/surg, critical care, geri, peds, psych, etc). Plus you will be looking up and seeing or at least hearing about a lot of common meds in clinicals.

You will be ok. Just remember that you don't need to memorize specific drugs but the classes they are in (beta blockers, etc) and what each class of drugs does overall. Your going to know more than you thought.

nursekrys · Feb 3, 2008

I personally would not attend a school who doesn't do this. I would contact the nursing admin and find out if it is part of another class you are taking. If not, I would head for the hills. Meds are a HUGE part of being an RN. Good luck passing the NCLEX without knowing meds......
Just me and what I'd do
At my school, we have a specified Pharmacology class, M-F 7-3 for 4 weeks. During this class we have 2 med calculation exams of which a 100% is expected, we get 3 tries and if we cannot do it, we are out of that class and must retake it. Also in that month, we have an exam every Monday and are expected to make at least an 85%, no retakes here, or again we are out. Then the day before the class is completed a final cumulative written exam is given where a 90% is expected, no retakes, if you cannot make it, then out you go. Finally, the last day, is the skills examination that goes through I think about 10 scenarios, again a total of 90% or no passing. This may sound harsh or impossible, but I assure it is not. I have friends who just completed that class, which is the 4th month of our 16 month program (RN) and they did it. As have the hundreds who passed before them. Reason for such high grades? Med errors are in many cases lethal. Not giving a med correctly, on time, or god forbid the wrong one, can and does lead to patient death or harsh consequences. Do I think I will make med errors, I hope not, but the reality is I, as will many others, most likely face this very issue. That is why a class like this is SO important. Then, in med-surg we go over organ specific meds and so on.

Wow! This class sounds very intense! Where are you going to school at? The pharmacology is built in with our med/surg course at my school, but I think it would be helpful to have a specific pharm class. Also, it sounds like other schools have the same type of pharm teaching as mine or a small class that they have forgotten everything from! We have so much to learn and it's very hard to remember everything...I think experience will help us here! All I can say is thank goodness for the drug guide books!