Pharm for APNs

allnurses Guide · Nov 4, 2015

What's=msufan3710;8770175]So, I'm in my Pharm for APNs class in NP school. I'm doing well on the tests, but I still feel like I don't really know the material as well as I should. I'm for sure not ready to be able to prescribe abx without looking up what organisms they fight (other than just throwing a broad spectrum abx therapy at a patient) and I really feel like I don't know why someone would prescribe Januvia over Glipizide, etc. Did anyone else feel like this before going into clinicals and clinical management?

I guess I'm just looking for support.

Have you started clinical rotations yet? Or your clinical courses?

What did you learn is the difference between Januvia and glipizide? How does each work? How efficacious is each? What are side effects of each? Renal dosing adjustments? What is the dosing regimen? These are the important things to understand from pharm class about the meds. Taking those together can you start to see what typenof patient would be better for each or which patients to avoid?

Then the clinical aspect What's their starting A1C? What meds are they on or have been trialed on? What are their comorbiditities? What do the ACE guidelines say?

You will learn more with time!

Bumex, DNP, NP · Nov 4, 2015

@BostonFNP

I haven't done any of my clinicals or clinical courses yet. I know I'm going to get the bulk of prescription knowledge during said courses/experiences, but I feel like I should know more going into the first clinical course....or maybe I'm paranoid. I understand the differences of sulfonlyureas and Januvia, I'm just not sure what would be preferential in certain cases. I know standard of care says Metformin, then metformin+glipizide, but that's about as far as we were explained in advanced pharm.

@WKShadowRN

Thanks for the information, I actually just printed that off!

lhflanurseNP, APRN · Nov 4, 2015

During your clinicals, if you are smart, you will befriend the drug reps. They have tons of information and handouts that will be most useful. I also found the Sanford Guide to be quite helpful in regards to antibiotics. We were all there at one time. It gets better with "practice" and as your confidence grows.

staphylococci, NP · Nov 11, 2015

Even though I aced my advanced pharmacology class, I felt and still feel the exact same way! Now that I am taking my first clinical management course, OB/GYN, it is starting to make a lot more sense. If you happen to have extra money lying around, pick up Basic & Clinical Pharmacology 13th edition by Katzung and Trevor. I really enjoyed that text in comparison to the required textbook for pharmacology. It helped me out tremendously!