Pharm :(

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Hello all,

In just a few weeks I begin pharmacology. All I have heard about this class is how hard it is!!! Does any one have any tips for conquering this class?

Thanks in advance:)

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If this is your first quarter/semester of pharmacology, you can expect to learn about basics of pharmacology such as pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and individual variations in drug responses. I learned very little in the way of actual drugs/medications during my first quarter of pharmacology as you need to know the basics mentioned above first.

I passed pharmacology by doing my readings before every lecture and using the lecture as a means of cementing and supplementing the material learned through the readings. I could always come to lecture with preloaded questions on things that I needed clarification on. Also, if your instructor utilizes powerpoints to provide lecture (most do), it is a good idea to print these before lecture and to skim through them so you can be aware of the flow and also become aware of any other information which might be presented that wasn't in your weekly readings.

One other thing that works great for pharmacology class is to make quizlet cards as you read so you always have something to come back to if you need a refresher. By this, I don't mean strictly inputting and learning definitions but rather trying to think about how you will be applying this information as an RN. A good way to think about the initial things you'll learn in pharmacology is how you would implement your understanding into patient education.

Good luck and best wishes to you. I have faith that you can do this!

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Thank you so much, you are so sweet. Awesome tips, I will for sure be using these during my semester!! :)

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Specializes in Critical Care and ED.

I've done undergrad and graduate level pharm classes and I can recommend the following two books for you. Both are very easy to follow and help you get to grips with the drug classes. The first one is the best in my opinion.

Pharmacology: A 2-in-1 Reference for Nurses (2-in-1 Reference for Nurses Series): 978158255327: Medicine & Health Science Books @ Amazon.com

Nursing Pharmacology Made Incredibly Easy (Incredibly Easy! Series®): 978145114624: Medicine & Health Science Books @ Amazon.com

I recommend thinking in terms of classes instead of individual drugs. I also recommend searching in YouTube for a particular drug class and watching the video lectures on there. They really help you understand the mechanisms and need to know points. YouTube is still a fantastic resource for me today.

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Thank you so much!! So helpful!

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