Pharm Classes....

jeni1517 · Jan 13, 2009

I don't know the state or school you are referring to, but in SC we still have to take them. The first portion is about meds, MOA, classification, contraindications, side effects, etc. The second portion is drug calculation. (Then you must take a drug calc. test the first day of EVERY semester after that, which you must make a 100 on the be able to advance in the class (you get 2 chances to take the test). Failure to make a 100 on the 2nd attempt is an automatic drop.

chicookie, BSN, RN · Jan 13, 2009

That is scary because there will be drugs out there that aren't on the commonly given list, and you have to know what it is before you give it. I think its part of the nurses job to make sure the patient is recieving the correct drug. Docs are busy and sometimes they order the wrong things. As a nurse you should have a basic understanding of all meds.

Ack_RN · Jan 13, 2009

Maybe they just didn't realize there's a pharm class in the future? It seems odd (and dangerous) to not have pharm.

cabogirl · Jan 13, 2009

I know it's part of my schools curriculum - I'll be taking it first semester.

Magsulfate, BSN, RN · Jan 13, 2009

I graduated in 03. I remember taking a pharm calculations class, but never had to take a pharmacology class. They taught us drugs as we went along discussing disease processes. We were responsible for knowing the drug backwards and forwards before we gave it in clinicals. This was a very good way for learning it,,, for me atleast. I was glad that I didn't have to take a whole class for pharmacology since we were learning it in class already and we had to self teach ourselves BEFORE we could give it in clinicals. It worked out pretty good for me and other nursing students in our class.

jamesgoal · Jan 13, 2009

I've check out a lot of schools and have seen pharm (calculations) as a pre-reg offered in the 1st semester and offer as the last class of the program. I may not be formally offer in the program but I'm sure is taught and understood.

I am curious to know the name of the school..though. If you know the school name look up the program and see what its offering.

twilli88 · Jan 13, 2009

I am in Ohio and am a 2nd year nursing student. Pharm is required before we can move on to our third year. That does seem odd that it is not a requirement.

RedCell · Jan 13, 2009

I know when I went to school, there was a pharmacology class. It was vital and I still refer back to it when I work.
I was speaking with a friend of mine who is in her 2nd year of nursing school and found out - there is NO pharmacology classes!! She said that in lecture, they will talk about some meds that might be commonly given, but it is nothing in depth, nothing about drug classes, how the meds work, etc... She said that the schools stance is "pharmacology classes are for pharmacists or doctors. its not your responsibility." She feels that the school is correct in saying this, but "maybe an extra class would help."
This pretty much horrified me!!!
Opinions?? Has anyone else heard of this?? Is this super common and I'm just naive?

This seems like the typical mindset of nursing school lately. I bet your friend has a cuppla semesters on community awareness and cultural sensitivity though. These are much more important topics to grasp than a basic nursing pharmacology class. The BSN programs are the worst. They really should change it from a bachelor of science degree. In closing, I think it really sucks that the majority of nurses do not learn how to be a nurse until after they get the hell away from nursing school and get into some kind of hospital based orientation program.

mskate · Jan 13, 2009

the school is in pittsburgh.

she is having a bunch of classes on nursing diversity etc... its not a BSN program... still an ADN.

its just scary! but it explains a lot about what i see sometimes when orienting new grads... i dont think the reality of our job is being properly represented. sure - the pharmacist or the md need to know about the drug... but YOUR the one giving it and its YOUR responsibility to know what youre giving and catch errors!!! the thought process of "its not my job to know" leads down a danger path, IMHO.

RNDreamer · Jan 13, 2009

My BSN program has a separate pharm class.

This seems like the typical mindset of nursing school lately. I bet your friend has a cuppla semesters on community awareness and cultural sensitivity though. These are much more important topics to grasp than a basic nursing pharmacology class. The BSN programs are the worst. .

highlandlass1592, BSN, RN · Jan 13, 2009

When I went thru my ADN program, I didn't have a pharm class. Pharm was incorporated into my nursing clinical class. However, I did have to take a pharm class for my BSN...We had some great nursing instructors in my ADN program and boy were the basics of pharm pounded into my head! I can honestly say I didn't miss much by not having a pharm class then and felt having to take one for my BSN was really a waste of time at this point. I just think I had a great group of teachers first time around.

All that being said, I can agree with what you're saying. Seems many new nurses I've worked with have no clue about the meds they are giving and don't have a desire to learn about them. I really pound it home they need to know these things and will drill those I've orientated relentlessly as to how the meds they are giving work. I may be tough but I want them to understand how important it is.