pharmacology and pathophysiology for FNP program

allnurses Guide · Oct 8, 2014

Georgetown is a reputable quality program.

I would be nervous about schools wiling to accept you without concern of your prior class work in the three Ps.

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zmansc, ASN, RN · Oct 9, 2014

That should be a requirement for all programs as it is outlined in the consensus model if I remember correctly.

Barnstormin' PMHNP · Oct 9, 2014

For current and prospective NP students and current NP's, what was your pre-masters coursework in pharmacology and pathophysiology? Did any of you get your BSN via RN to BSN programs, and if so, did you take additional coursework beyond your BSN to qualify for NP progams?

I am in a NP program at a brick and mortar school with an excellent reputation. I graduated from a very good associate program and then went to the B&M for my BSN while I worked as an RN. I went to this school with the express intention of attending it for my masters as well. I had to do patho and pharma again for the BSN program as part of their requirements even though I had done it in the associates. I will say that I am really glad I did because now in the masters we are doing patho and it is killing those students that did not have it recently or took it a looong time ago. The undergrad was tough, and masters is tougher. We need an 80 in patho to advance (as well as other core courses) so if you don't know your A&P you're done. Pharma is the same way. We are taught from medical textbooks, not nursing texts and are expected to know everything. Yes, that what my instructor said....everything, and at the provider level not nursing level. That being said, I was accepted into the Masters program without having to take GRE's and it is a very competitive program that makes great NP's.

I know its frustrating to take the core stuff, but it is really necessary. What bugs me is the time away from core stuff that is spent on yet another health care disparities class. I find THAT ridiculous. I don't think there is such a thing as too much patho or pharma.

Georgetown is a good school, it's good they gave you a heads up so you can succeed instead of taking your money and watching you fail.

tcat42 · Oct 10, 2014

While I am sure it is helpful to take pharmacology and pathophysiology, I don't feel it is necessary in all instances. I say this from experience as I graduated from an ADN program in 2011 and started attending a RN to BSN/MSN program in the fall of 2012. I never took the BSN pharm and patho because my program counts the master's level patho as a dual credit.

There was no requirement for a pharm course at the BSN level. I am currently taking the master's pharm and I am making an A average at this time. I was scared at first because I thought it might put me at a disadvantage and I did fine. These courses are not easy. Ten students out of fifty dropped out of my master's patho course when I took it in the fall of 2012 and most of them already had a BSN.

The patho course built upon my A&P courses that I took prior to nursing school. If I didn't understand something in my master's patho course I would re-read my book until I did. Everyone has an opinion and the admissions counselor certainly is allowed hers. If you did well in your A&P classes and your ADN pharm, then you will do well in a master's pharm and patho. However, if you were weak in these classes, then you might consider what she says.

Lajimolala, BSN, RN, NP · Oct 10, 2014

I think every school is different and certainly I can say Georgetown has a very rigorous program. I would think they make these decisions based on what has happened in the past. One thing I wish I thought more about before starting my graduate degree, was thinking about the struggle of studying constantly in a very rigorous program. The patho and pharm class is no joke. It's very thorough, down to the molecular level. And in the case of pharm, down to the covalent bond of sharing atoms. And as previously mentioned, you do not get to devote 100% of your study time to these very scientific-based classes. Everyone that comes to Georgetown were A students, and now some of us are happy to just pass. And to confirm it, a passing grade in some classes can be as high as 83%.

Just as a personal thought I do see it happening, it's just really nice if someone could have warned us about it sooner. I think starting an MSN program and not making it is more devastating than not being to apply for a program at all. This threat looms over my head constantly. Somehow, so far I manage to make it, but by no means do I ever let myself slip. The fear of failing is very real. Even though I'm smart. Even though I've had 4.0 science GPA in my undergrad. To put into concrete perspective, OCHEM was easy for me. I studied for three hours the day before the test and aced it the next day. That strategy now in grad school would be the easiest way to fail.

I agree that it is good thing when a school shares with you what you can do to make yourself ready for this program. Everyone that thinks about going back to school rarely thinks about the anxiety you endure for the next two years once you get that acceptance.

gonetocarolina · Oct 10, 2014

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to respond to my questions (and I welcome more responses!) I'm not convinced that Georgetown would be a good fit for me, given the rigors of the curriculum on its compressed timeline, as well as the hefty tuition costs. (Still paying off law school debt, so I'm wary of incurring large loans!)

That said, I'll talk to admissions in other programs and determine how to proceed regarding pathophysiology and pharmacology. I'm grateful to Georgetown for raising the issue, since it wasn't on my radar screen before now. I definitely don't want to enter any program inadequately prepared!

Best of luck to all current students. MyNameRN, I am sure you will succeed in your program (not clear if it is Georgetown?) I appreciate the candor of your post. I am sure all students have been afraid of failing at some point, and probably those who are overconfident are less likely to graduate!

Riburn3, BSN, MSN, APRN, NP · Oct 10, 2014

Georgetown is a good school and they do a lot of the work for you. But you pay for it. I currently share a couple of clinical sites with 3 different Georgetown students and am getting the same clinical experience they are, but I had to find my preceptors and they didn't. I think it was worth savings $50k for the inconvenience.

BlackSkimmer · Oct 14, 2014

I appreciate hearing from current or recent NP students who clearly and honestly describe how difficult it is. I would appreciate hearing more of this, but even more than that would really appreciate hearing from those folks what they do to a) survive academically and b) survive emotionally. In my experience, grad school is at least 50% about managing one's emotions in response to the stress. So, how do you do it? And for those of you who used to easily ace science courses, what new study methods have you developed to make it in NP school?

Julia77 · Oct 25, 2014

I am currently an NP student, and another healthcare provider told me about youtube: EFT feeling overwhelmed with Brad Yates. It is a free, 10 minute program, and is a guided meditation that acknowledges your current feelings, ambivalence and helps you put it all in perspective and as yoga teachers talk about, be more in the body and not so much in the mind -- I think this continued, ongoing cerebral focus involved in being a student can be difficult. Of course other things are great, too, like running, swimming, yoga, eating healthy, B vitamins and so forth, but the great thing about this is that it is 10 minutes, free and available wherever you have wifi accesss. There are other EFT youtube programs, same kind of deal, and I find some to be helpful, and some to be not such a good fit, depending on your circumstances and issues.

Best wishes, Julia.

SierraBravo · Oct 26, 2014

I appreciate hearing from current or recent NP students who clearly and honestly describe how difficult it is. I would appreciate hearing more of this, but even more than that would really appreciate hearing from those folks what they do to a) survive academically and b) survive emotionally. In my experience, grad school is at least 50% about managing one's emotions in response to the stress. So, how do you do it? And for those of you who used to easily ace science courses, what new study methods have you developed to make it in NP school?

I did an accelerated BSN program at a prestigious private University and now I am in the NP program there, too. We had to do pharma and patho in our BSN program, and obviously again for the NP. Honestly, the patho was significantly more in depth than the BSN patho, but it was completely do-able. Advanced pharma on the other hand, well I was expecting more out of that class. Pretty much the only thing I took away from that class was how to properly do patient teaching about medications. I actually think I got more out of my BSN pharma class. I graduated with honors from my BSN program, and I've gotten all A's so far in my graduate work. It's not that much more difficult in my opinion. Although I wish it was more consistent with the education PA's get in terms of more medical training instead of research and writing.

allnurses Guide · Oct 26, 2014

Although I wish it was more consistent with the education PA's get in terms of more medical training instead of research and writing.

How many clinical semesters have you completed to make that judgement?

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