Pharm self-study plan?

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Does anyone have a self-study plan they've done for pharmacology? We have an integrated curriculum at my CC and so there is no formal pharm course. I would like to do some self-study over the summer. I finally feel like I'm slowly starting to get somewhere, but would love to gain a better perspective. I have the Adams pharm book and the Saunders NCLEX (I was thinking the pharm chapters there would be good to quiz myself as I haven't even looked at those). Does anyone have any ideas? I've thought about taking a course somewhere, but I don't really have the money and I won't need an official course for the MSN program I'm (hopefully) going to eventually.

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I've wanted to do this too because I'm kind of in the same boat. If I ever go back for my BSN I'll get to take a pharm class, but not in my ADN program. We have to take more important classes, like microbiology :madface:.

So if anyone knows of a good book..

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Specializes in oncology.

I just got into the program and start in Aug. Im finishing up Pharm and Barely passing. And of course the final in accumlative. yuk! And suggestions to learn all this info without killing myself?

Thanks :o

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Specializes in PCU/Hospice/Oncology.

well is it just the math or drugs or both? We do both over 2 terms. I am in my 2nd term with pharm. I can help with suggestions or what not ^^

If its just prep you want, I can email you a list of the drugs most commonly used in the hospital per system. We learn 25-35 drugs every two weeks so it adds up. [email protected] is my email if you want to get in touch :)

- the dreamer

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Must be the drugs I'm taking, because my math is fine. :lol2:

And what kind of ursing program doesn't have a formal Pharmacology class!

Mike

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Must be the drugs I'm taking, because my math is fine. :lol2:

And what kind of ursing program doesn't have a formal Pharmacology class!

Mike

Our nursing program does have a formal Pharmacology class, but only 1credit. It was explained that most of the pharm is integrated into the regular program as we learn about diseases & body systems. For example, I just finished 1st semester and we were given a total of ~60-70 meds to learn over the term along with each disease we studied.

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Specializes in Med/Surg <1; Epic Certified <1.
And what kind of nursing program doesn't have a formal Pharmacology class!

Ours...:o

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I would advise to get yourself a good pharmacology book that is broken down into easy reading. Some pharm books are so confusing a PhD could not decipher them. Then just take it system by system. Your vasoactive drugs will probably be your most difficult to sit down and really master. Good luck!

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i just finished my first semester of pharm and got an "a" . (yippee!) i found it really helpful to make a table for each different type of drugs and then make divide it by familes. for example, i took a legal size sheet of paper and made a chart for "antibiotics" then i made a column for each family (sulfa's, penicillins, tetracyclines, etc.). for the rows, i labeled them (moa, indications, se's, adverse events, contraindications, drug interactions, and specific agents.) this helps me see the similarites and differences at a glance while i'm studying. it makes a great reference later on too.

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i just finished my first semester of pharm and got an "a" . (yippee!) i found it really helpful to make a table for each different type of drugs and then make divide it by familes. for example, i took a legal size sheet of paper and made a chart for "antibiotics" then i made a column for each family (sulfa's, penicillins, tetracyclines, etc.). for the rows, i labeled them (moa, indications, se's, adverse events, contraindications, drug interactions, and specific agents.) this helps me see the similarites and differences at a glance while i'm studying. it makes a great reference later on too.

good tip, kris! :monkeydance:

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Specializes in Operating Room.

My nursing program doesn't have a formal pharm class either. We are taught some in lecture, some in lab, but mostly are required to learn it on our own time.

We had to pass a test and could only miss 3 questions out of 30, or you would get kicked out of the program. I believe there were about 200 meds, and we had to learn enough to answer application-type questiosn covering side effects, classifications, nursing implications, uses, contraindications, and actions.

It was not an easy task on top of lecture, lab and clinical.

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My nursing program doesn't have a formal pharm class either. We are taught some in lecture, some in lab, but mostly are required to learn it on our own time.

Wow. That must suck.

I'm not sure if I would sign on for a Nursing program that didn't have a formal Pharm class (aguably the hardest, most demanding subject in nursing school.)

I wonder what the pass/fail rate is for schools that leave pharmacology to the students "to learn on their own time." I suppose that there are a few who embrace the challenge and do very well, but the others...?

Also, I wonder why the BON even accredits these schools.

Food for thought.

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