Pharmacology troubles...

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Hey everyone! :roll

Yes, as the title states, I am having pharmacology troubles. The class is TOUGH! I am just so tired of even talking about it and I don't even want to go on about how terrible my teacher is. The professor does not do much to help the class... our teacher is basically the book, I mean she just tells us what to read and hands out the test to us. Now, I am struggling half way through the semester and I feel so exhausted and burnt out. :eek: This week I have a Health Assessment skills check off, Check off on Wet to dry dressings and I think about 30 chapters of pharmacology to be tested on. I don't know if I can make it. I mean the skills I can work on, but pharmacology seems like even if I study it, I still won't remember anything about the drugs afterwards. Any suggestions to help me get through the rest of the semester would really be appreciated? :flowersfo :)

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

After a couple of semesters in our nursing classes (and this was years and years ago), my classmates and I joked around about the side effects of meds. Nausea, vomiting and rash are probably the most common. So, for side effects of specific drugs you're looking for things that really are more way out then N&V. Like Coumadin. A little too much and you are going to have problems with bruising and bleeding. Potassium. A little too much and the heart rate plummets. Use flash cards and carry the ones you are having trouble memorizing with you all the time. A few minutes of going through them here and there is how you will learn this stuff. It might help you to learn drugs by also knowing what diseases or disorders a drug is used for. Also, if you can answer the question "why" it will help you remember drugs. Why do you give Tylenol? Why does aspirin make a person have gastric bleeding? Why does Coumadin make someone bruise? Why do you give someone a steroid? Sometimes if you can equate a sign or symptom with a medication it will help you remember it better.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Pediatrics, Geriatrics.

Sounds alot like my pharm class haha

She basically walked in, called roll, administered a pop quiz, told us what chapter we would be tested on the next week, worked ONE example on the board, and left the rest up to us to read and figure out! Amazing isn't it?

What was even worse is that SHE got half the problems wrong when she worked examples bc she would not use a calculator. It really confused alot of the students.

What we found that worked best was studying Pharm in a study group of four or five people. You can work problems outloud and pull from each others knowlege.

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Specializes in Pediatrics Only.

Flash cards always work for me :)

Pharm is hard..and theres no way to get around it. We all bit the bullet and studied in a group, but I always liked to prepare flash cards before hand and quiz myself. It also helped me to quiz others- boosted my confidence in the material.

Good Luck! :nurse:

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Specializes in CCRN.

Step back, breathe deeply and tell yourself you can do it! Pharm is hard. It's just so much "new" information in such a short amount of time. I agree with asking yourself "Why would I give this drug?" You cannot just memorize all the info. Besides, the exam questions will be asked as "What would you look for?", "What are the contraindications?" and so on. Just tell yourself you have made it half way through and you can do the next half.

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Thanks everyone for the helpful tips, and encouragement. I deeply appreciate it. :)

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