Learning from Pharmacology

            This semester has challenged me more academically than any other up to this point. The class I have undoubtedly learned the most new information in is Pharmacology. Throughout the semester we have learned nearly 200 drugs, most of which I had never heard of before. I have learned the drugs that treat infection, diabetes, high blood pressure, mental disorders, cardiac disease, gastrointestinal problems, and much much more. The craziest part about it is that I actually still remember all of them.

            In previous classes I have felt like I crammed a lot of information into my head right before each test and then lost it all almost immediately afterwards. This is fine for getting good grades but not very practical because I am going to be using everything I am learning for the rest of my life. Nursing is a profession where you are actually going to need everything you are learning in school. When I graduate from TCU in a couple years I am going to be a registered nurse. This means I am going to be taking care of actual patients with actual problems and illnesses and I’m not going to have my teachers there reminding me what I learned in class sophomore year. I didn’t really come to this realization until this semester but I’m so glad I finally did because it has helped me become a more efficient studier.

            Instead of looking at a drug chart and trying to memorize every word, I have learned to think of situations where I would use the information and how I would act. One of the most important things we have to know for each drug is the potential side effects. It is important to know what to look for when a person is taking a certain drug and monitor for potential effects of the drug that can be harmful and even fatal. It is helpful when I’m learning these to think about how a patient would present them in a real setting. This method of studying has been much more efficient and successful for me and I am going to take it with me for the rest of my time at TCU.

            Pharmacology has taught me a few things outside of the content as well. At the beginning of the teacher I absolutely hated my professor. After the second exam I truly believed I hated her more than anyone I knew. Her tests were extremely difficult despite studying for close to 50 hours prior to them, she yelled at us for things that seemed pointless to me, and she had everyone too scared to answer her questions in class that she decided we needed to have quizzes every class—as if we weren’t doing enough.

As time went on I began to like her more and more. I don’t know if we began performing better or she just felt bad about being so hard on us, but she started complimenting us and laughing with us in class. No one knew what to do. She even gave us extra credit one day for coming to class! What this experience taught me is not to judge someone too quickly. It’s clear to me now that all along she just wanted us to reach our full potential. She felt like we were slacking off and she knew that in this major and profession that wouldn’t be acceptable. She is now one of my favorite professors I’ve ever had, despite the rough beginning that we had.

Pharmacology has given me practical knowledge I will use for the rest of my life as well as tools and skills I will use while I’m at TCU. It has taught me not to judge people too quickly, which is something I know I need to work on. Though it’s been an extremely difficult course, it has been rewarding.