is it ok to take advanced pharmacology and health assessment together

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Specializes in med surg,stroke.

Hi,

Is it ok to take advanced pharmacology and advanced health assessment course together in a NP program with 3 days 12 hr shift job.

I am in a program where both subjects are to be taken as advised by school but I am wondering that will I be able to keep up my grades between A and B.

What can be the best plan to study and what kind of testing modes are used ? quizzes or case studies or both.

Thanks

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Well, it has been a long time since I was in school (grad 1998 George Mason) but my program did pharm and advanced assessment together in one semester. It was hard! IE: it was the only time I cut my hours in the PICU to two 12's a pay during the program. At the time we had no kids and I was a really good student--but again, difficult. I would say if you have the choice cut back until you get through!

Good luck!

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Specializes in women's health, NICU.

I agree, taking both classes at the same time is extremely difficult. I know of one student who did that, but at the end of the semester, she was scared half to death because she didn't know if she passed assessment or not. If you can avoid doing that, then I say you should, especially if you plan on working during school too.

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Specializes in Nurse Practitioner.

now i am a little nervous. i am taking advanced health assessment and advanced pathophysiology next semester. i only work prn and figured the two would make sense together as i'd be studying assessment of body systems and then the disease processess. does anyone think these two are ok to take together? i still have time to switch around classes if i need to, but i start school next week.

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Specializes in NICU.

Are you a CSUDH FNP student?

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BSN-those are fine together. Pharm was the only one I found really time consuming...I think you will do great with a prn schedule. They feed into each other-patho and assess.

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I think you'll do fine with a PRN schedule BUT for the poster who is working three 12 hr shifts a week you are going to have NO life. Pharm is a HUGE volume of information and Advanced Assessment will keep you busy with classes, labs AND clinicals. You get one time to learn this stuff and you need it every.single.day. If you can cut back to PRN then I would do it.

In our program, Adv. Assessment was HEAVILY front loaded and eased up the last half. If you can somehow change your work schedule at the beginning then it may work out well for you.

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Specializes in Step-Down Vascular, Renal, ESRD.

I took health assessment, advanced patho and pharm in one semester with working 3 -12 hours shift on the weekend day. It was hard,but I did it with two A- and one B+. You really must manage your time. These classes are the core of the curriculum. It is said, if you get a good H and P, 90 percent of the time you will have the dx. It is sooooooo true.

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I just finished with Pharmacology, Patho, and Assessment. Got all A's but it was VERY stressful. It can be done. I do have classmates who took these classes with me while having a full time job and they all passed.

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Specializes in FNP.

I did, straight As. It will be fine if you well organized and methodical.

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Specializes in ER, ARNP, MSN, FNP-BC.

had Adv assessment, patho, pharm and theory 1st semester with a kid who played soccer and worked part time. It had been 16 years since I had done school. I got all A's. If I can do it, ANYONE can do it. However, I started out that same semester working full time. Had to cut back. Only worked two shifts a week. I know people that work full time and have done this with no problem. However, they don't have children. I had a supportive husband as well. Talk to your boss, if they like you maybe they will work with you. Mine did, she was GREAT :)

Good Luck!

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