IndianaDan

Just a sidenote:Yesterday in the OR the anesthesiologist was sitting at the nurses station in the pre-op room with a drug book open on his lap. He was double checking to make sure none of meds that a patient was taking would interact with planned anasthesia for surgery. Apparently the patient was not compliant in stopping some of their meds within 24-48 hours of surgery?? This Doc is a very good anasthesiologist, but there is no way in heck you can remember every drug, interactions, and side effects etc. We can try, but it's not gonna happen especially when you are getting it crammed down your throat. That's why there is a drug book within arms reach of the Pixis/med cart. I guess what I'm trying to say is, don't put so much pressure on yourself that you implode during the first semester.:cheers:

Enzymes are necessary in DNA replication. Do a search for polymerase, helicase and ligase.

I'm only second semester, so take this for what it's worth. I was overwhelmed in my first semester Pharm class also. It seemed like the PHarm class just threw the drugs at you so quick that it was all I could do to memorize for the test followed by a brain dump and more memorization for the next section of the class. My retention of meds and dosages started during clinicals first semester. For clinicals my instructors made us fill out drug cards c our patient hx and reason they were taking the drug, the drug classification, usual rt/dose, side effects, and nursing considerations. We did this for EVERY drug the patient was taking. Typical drug book info, but it helped c retention. We're still doing the same thing in second semester clinicals and will be until December when we graduate. Hope this helps.

Hello, I'm 33 also. I guess it just took me a while to realize what I wanted to be when I grew up. I took a sort of roundabout path into nursing. I've worked at many things throughout my short life including a 5 yr stint in the USN, and always made enough money to support me and my family, but I was not happy or challenged in the least. My mother inlaw is a retired OB nurse (35 years), and my sister-inlaw is a HH and Hospice nurse. They encouraged nursing for me, and the more I researched the better it sounded. While I don't think I'll ever be rich working as a nurse, I will always be challenged. I'm now in my second semester of core classes and clinicals. I'm in an 18 month RN program which runs straight through the summer, so I graduate in Dec. I'm one of two guys in a class of 25. Good luck to you all!