Pharm as weed out class? at HCC

purplemania, BSN, RN · Aug 4, 2004

Does the school "use" the course as a weedout class, or are the students weeding themselves out by failing the course? Can you be a success in nursing school without passing this course? I do not have info on those schools, but you can contact the BNE site for pass rates (NCLEX) on every Texas school, if that helps.

http://www.bne.state.tx.us

bioniclewoman · Aug 4, 2004

Please Help! I am finishing up all of my prereqs this fall. I am taking micro and Pharm. I believe HCC uses Pharm as a weed out class. This is the only school I have found that requires it before the program begins. I have only heard bad things about HCC's program and I am starting to wonder if I am making the wrong choice. I could apply for Cyfair or Tomball. Please give me some information...

UTA requires pharm before intering the nursing program too. I'm glad I'm taking it first and getting it out of the way.

MQ Edna · Aug 7, 2004

Please Help! I am finishing up all of my prereqs this fall. I am taking micro and Pharm. I believe HCC uses Pharm as a weed out class. This is the only school I have found that requires it before the program begins. I have only heard bad things about HCC's program and I am starting to wonder if I am making the wrong choice. I could apply for Cyfair or Tomball. Please give me some information...

Hi, I'm currently enrolled at HCC and I just got done with my pharmacology. What you've heard about HCC is true. They are using pharmacology as a weedout process, but if you are a hardworking student, you will make it through pharm. I believe the pharmacology summer classes started with 300 students and after the 2nd exam, it went down to around 250 or less. I actually failed the 1st and 2nd exam, but i stayed in there and busted my butt studying and still managed a B in the course.

Nurse Jeni · Aug 7, 2004

The program at my CC suggests pharm as a prereq, and taking it will give you more points (selection is based half on points in specific classes, half on your slot on the waiting list). The class is feared by most students and is a 100% pass or fail for the final. It is a 2 unit class and rumors about the hard-nosed instructor aren't pretty. I'm sure it is a hard class/subject, but for good reason. I don't believe they are using it here to weed students out since it isn't required until once you're in the program.

geekgolightly, BSN, RN · Aug 8, 2004

I graduated in 2003 from HCC and they changed the pharm class to a prereq right after my class began. We started with over 140 students and our graduating class was around 45; it only makes sense to weed out people who are not going to take their studies seriously.

The Pharm class is definitely passable and they even dumbed it down a bit for the prereq course. (only makes sense as most will not have had any experience with medications). Just work at it daily and make sure you pay attention to the lectures more so than the book.

As far as the program goes, I feel that it more than adequately prepared me for NCLEX which is the most important part of a nursing program. You can;t get out there and perform your intuitive skills until you pass that test. I didn't study for NCLEX and passed with 91 questions. I think that speaks for the program more than my brains.

Gitane56 · Aug 8, 2004

I am happy to hear some schools are *weeding out* . I live and work in the Fort Worth area and the schools here should hang their heads in shame. I am so sorry , but I have never seen such a bunch of lazy uneducated nurses in my entire career . Please for your sake be happy if your school is tough , that should tell you they care about you and the community!

MQ Edna · Aug 9, 2004

Yeah, I know what you mean, i'm glad my school is using pharmacology as a weeding out class. What should I expect in the program? lots of harder courses? or was pharmacology one of the hardest course?

Gitane56 · Aug 10, 2004

Yeah, I know what you mean, i'm glad my school is using pharmacology as a weeding out class. What should I expect in the program? lots of harder courses? or was pharmacology one of the hardest course?

It wasn't so bad for me . Remember the medications are taught to you by systems . Remember also you will be learning medications your entire career .

Do you have a palm pilot by any chance ? A place online called epocrites has free download of medications and it is updated weekly. It is a great way to learn . I use it everyday in my work ( because as I said "learning your entire career) . Good Luck !

bioniclewoman · Aug 10, 2004

I am happy to hear some schools are *weeding out* . I live and work in the Fort Worth area and the schools here should hang their heads in shame. I am so sorry , but I have never seen such a bunch of lazy uneducated nurses in my entire career . Please for your sake be happy if your school is tough , that should tell you they care about you and the community!

So are these nurses grades from schools around Fort Worth? Do you know where they went to school? I'd like to avoid attending a school that doesn't prepare me for work.

Gitane56 · Aug 12, 2004

Yes I am afraid they are from around here . Some are from Hill , others from Dallas , Concorde ....some from out of state . A few from the south . I fear due to the nursing shortage the standards and quality of nurses have been affected .

For instance , I am a nurse supervisor in a large LTC , rehab , wellness and med surg facility . I am amazed at the new nurses who we hire (and let go with-in their 90 days ) due to their attitudes . They seem to think just coming to work is enough . Even though they are given orientation which includes P & P and expectations , they have the nerve to have cell phones to their ears , shrug at patients telling them " I don't know " , or going further to tell their supervisor they are "here to learn".

They haven't an ounce of professionalism in them .

They don't understand chain of command i.e. L.V.N. , R.N. , N.P. , P.A. , Doctor. etc.

The concept of * patient advocate * is a foreign statement .

Please be of the best standards you can be , we need all the help we can get , but we will not take just anyone . :nurse:

MQ Edna · Aug 14, 2004

It wasn't so bad for me . Remember the medications are taught to you by systems . Remember also you will be learning medications your entire career .
Do you have a palm pilot by any chance ? A place online called epocrites has free download of medications and it is updated weekly. It is a great way to learn . I use it everyday in my work ( because as I said "learning your entire career) . Good Luck !

so i guess, i'm better off buying a palm based PDA rather than getting the pocket pc type huh? thanks for the info !