Taking Pharm before Patho?

[phiaflyy]

Hello! My next question is regarding taking pharmacology before pathophysiology. At my school, the pharm class is only offered once a year (the fall semester). I am concerned that by taking pharm before patho I will be a little lost per se. Or will it help it out when I finally do take patho in the spring semester?

I've just heard that having your patho notes/knowledge makes pharm that much easier. Am I at a disadvantage? Thanks!!

[nolanurse88]

I'll be taking pharm and patho + nursing classes and clinicals next semester. I'm worried as well but it'll be ok.

[blueberry13]

I don't think you can fully understand Pharm until you take Patho. Sure you can memorize meds but you won't really understand how and why they work without Patho.

[vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN]

I never took patho. Pharm was a hard class but you can do it! None of the ADN or BDN programs require it. I passed pharm.

[phiaflyy]

Thanks everyone! (:

[la_chica_suerte85, BSN, RN]

Our program is set up such that pharm comes before patho. You'll be fine. It's not so much being concerned about the disease processes but more how the drugs affect system functions. Many drugs can be used for different problems because many systems are affected by similar things (i.e. drugs dealing with adrenergics can affect both the CV system and the lungs but may do so in opposing ways -- like vasodilation v. bronchoconstriction so you have to consider using such a drug in an asthmatic pt). That's about as deep as it gets. Pathophys is not really going to intersect and I don't think you'll be hurting yourself by getting pharm out of the way -- at least that's how it was for us.

[RookieRoo]

My program also has us take pharm before patho. I don't feel lost. It's mostly about memorizing drugs and understanding their effects, contraindications, etc.

[MurseJJ]

I'm also another one that has pharm before patho. I even asked if I could take the first semester of patho (they divide the 4 credit course into two 2 credit courses) with pharm, and they said no, it has to be taken with med/surg I. I'm sure it'll be fine though if this is how they've been doing it.

[2bNurseHammonds]

OMG My classmates and I are taking Patho AND Pharm together!! NOOOOOOO we are dying. It's way too much work plus it's out of order! Patho first then Pharm. You'll make life so much easier that way!!!!

[Just A Wanderer]

I'm taking pharm and patho at the same time right now. I suggest taking patho before pharm because you get to learn about disease processes first, before learning the drugs that can treat them. Patho discusses some treatments but it doesn't go too much into depth about them. However, if you want to take pharm since it's the first course available, I don't think you'd be completely lost without the patho background. In my opinion, I think physio is a more important course to take before pharm, not patho.

Good luck!