Pathophysiology Help!

SFCardiacRN · Mar 3, 2006

How in the world can you care for a patient with CHF(congestive heart failure) if you don't understand the disease process? Treatments that would be appropriate in other patients could kill a CHF'er!

cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN · Mar 3, 2006

I don't have Patho as a separate class either. I don't see why it needs to be. When we learn about something such as CHF, we learn about the whole darn thing. Patho, etiology, s/s, etc... My school has a 95-98% pass rate on the NCLEX, so I don't think it needs to be a requirement for that...

RN and Mommy · Mar 3, 2006

How in the world can you care for a patient with CHF(congestive heart failure) if you don't understand the disease process? Treatments that would be appropriate in other patients could kill a CHF'er!

:angryfire You're right! My school doesn't teach any pathophysiology for the disease process. They only teach us how to administer meds! Do you really think that they don't include this into our curriculum?:smackingf Do you really think they only teach us how to care for the person and not to understand the disease process? Come on! Just because schools do things different ways does not mean the information is not included in another way!! BTW...my school has an excellent NCLEX pass rate. It was 97% last year. It is also considered one of the hardest nursing schools in the state. Don't act like just because someone doesn't take a seperate Patho class that they don't know anything about the disease process. I have taken your comments as an insult and I feel that you are saying that because we haven't taken patho as a seperate class that we must be idiots that don't understand disease processes and will most likely kill someone! :angryfire

SFCardiacRN · Mar 4, 2006

I'm not the one that said patho was not required to get a nursing degree or pass the NCLEX. I'm just pointing out how important it is. And don't be so touchy, no insults were intended.

NaomieRN · Mar 4, 2006

I agree with futurern07. A good instructor can make a difficult class fun.

What about getting Nursing Pathophysiology Made Incredibly Easy, would that help? Sometimes it helps to use other resources when you have a terrible instructor.

cheridemucha · Jul 26, 2010

someone said that all school in ca require patho for an asn. patho is definitely critical, but not all colleges in ca require it. bakersfield college doesn't (see the curriculum below), but if you will be transferring to cal state bakersfield to get your bsn, it is required.

first semester

nurs b20 fundamentals of nursing 4.0

nurs b21 medical surgical nursing i 5.0

nurs b22 pharmacology 3.0

total 12.0

second semester

nurs b23 medical/surgical nursing 2 4.5

nurs b24 obstetrics-maternity nursing 3.0

nurs b25 mental health-psychiatric 3.5

total 11.0

third semester

nurs b26 medical/surgical nursing 3 5.5

nurs b27 pediatric nursing 3.5

total 9.0

fourth semester

nurs b28 medical/surgical nursing 4 7.0

nurs b29 gerontology-community nursing 2.0

total 9.0

yvonnesariya11 · Aug 25, 2010

Hello everyone,

I start my Patho class this Friday at GCC. Has anyone taken this class at GCC? If so, is their an instructor that you would recommend? I have heard this class is an absolute nightmare, and yes I am very afraid! I did a google search on my instructor and the reviews on her were not good. Not to many instructors that teach Patho, so I am not sure what to do? Any advice would be so appreciated.

Bob_N_VA · Aug 25, 2010

I'm taking it now, and yes it is hard, but it is also the most interesting of all my current classes. Really, this is the basis for most of what you will be doing in Nursing, if you don't understand the disease process, than how will you know what you are doing is going to help or hinder your pt? You just have to hunker down, study your @$$ off and get through it. :twocents:

i'mdown4that · Aug 25, 2010

Hello everyone,
I start my Patho class this Friday at GCC. Has anyone taken this class at GCC? If so, is their an instructor that you would recommend? I have heard this class is an absolute nightmare, and yes I am very afraid! I did a google search on my instructor and the reviews on her were not good. Not to many instructors that teach Patho, so I am not sure what to do? Any advice would be so appreciated.

yvonnesariya11,

By "GCC", do you mean GCC in Glendale, AZ? If so, then I am taking Patho there this semester, also. Matter of fact, my class starts tonight. I researched the few instructors that teach Patho at GCC, and none of them got high reviews.

Well, I guess we'll just have to make the best of what we're given and study our butts off! Good luck to you! :)

BTW...in response to previous posters, this class is not required at GCC either; supposed to be included in the program curriculum. However, based on many many suggestions from NS students, it is a very valuable class to have under your belt before you start. So, since I'm waiting to get in to NS, and all pre-reqs have been completed, I'm taking Patho! Actually, I'm kinda excited to take it! We'll see how I feel in a few weeks...lol.

yvonnesariya11 · Aug 25, 2010

Hello i'mdown4that,

Yes I am taking it at GCC in Arizona. I have also heard that this is a very valuable class to take before the nursing program. I am also done with all my pre reqs and co reqs, so I figured this class would be very beneficial while I wait. Good luck to you too, I am sure this class will not be fun! LOL Let me know what you think of your instructor tonight?

i'mdown4that · Aug 25, 2010

Hello i'mdown4that,
Yes I am taking it at GCC in Arizona. I have also heard that this is a very valuable class to take before the nursing program. I am also done with all my pre reqs and co reqs, so I figured this class would be very beneficial while I wait. Good luck to you too, I am sure this class will not be fun! LOL Let me know what you think of your instructor tonight?

Thank you! Will do...