Help on preparing

[tobie]

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Ok, well now that i have your attention, i need some serious help.

I do not know about the rest of you out there, but i am getting my butt kicked on rotations. Things that i should know from school, i do not know- things that should be relatively easy to understand using knowledge from school are difficult for me. What can i do now to get to the point where i should be? Get Dipro or Koda-Kimble and start reading away?? I am to the point where i am fustrated. 😡 What am i to do now?! Please help me.

thanks

 

[rxforlife2004]

Ok, well now that i have your attention, i need some serious help.

I do not know about the rest of you out there, but i am getting my butt kicked on rotations. Things that i should know from school, i do not know- things that should be relatively easy to understand using knowledge from school are difficult for me. What can i do now to get to the point where i should be? Get Dipro or Koda-Kimble and start reading away?? I am to the point where i am fustrated. 😡 What am i to do now?! Please help me.

thanks

Get yourself a PDA with a loaded Lexi-comp program.

 

[tobie]

Get yourself a PDA with a loaded Lexi-comp program.

got it. best $$ i have spent so far. but, last time i checked, cant use one of those bad boys on the boards.

 

[sdn1977]

tobie - what do you find difficult?

Is it the conceptual issues associated with medication choice in disease state?

Is it mechanical calculations?

Is it remembering the difference in the ace-inhibitors or some such?

Tell us more specifically what your issue are on rotations? Where are your problems? What gives you the most difficulty - specifics please?????

I'll really try to help! (lots of us will!!!)

 

[T1ar1a]

create disease state charts or tables.

That's what I did on rotations and I eventually used those when I took the boards.

You should make a table for every disease state you encounter. Make it relevant. Have the s/sx, clinical diagnostics, treatment algorithm, dosage and adrs of drugs, monitoring parameters, and drug interactions.

This helps significantly as it forces you to review the topic and selectively pick important information to include into your tables or charts.

These are not meant to supplement the core texts and guidelines created by the different specialties. But more of a reference for yourself to review. At the end of rotations, you should know most of the algorithms and idiosyncracies of drugs that the charts will be used only to refresh your memory.

 

[tobie]

good idea there, going to get a notebook and start that today. mainly its consepual stuff. ya, i know what is a BB vs a CCB, but the problem is, tieing it all together. One guy that is rotating with me is rambling MOA, contraindications, monitoring parameters, like its going outta style- and i feel like an idiot because i dont know what the heck he's saying.

Put it this way- i feel like a 2nd year pharmacy student, and i feel way outta place at my PICU rotation.

in short, consepual stuff, drug moa and indications, and monitoring parameters. I guess i should have gone to a 4year school instead of my crap school.👎

 

[ZpackSux]

Tobie,

I understand where you're coming from. It's not easy to make that transition from "Therapeutics" to actual rotation.

If not already, get a copy of the 'Washington Manual.' It's short, easy to read..and will give you a broader perspective on Patient Care in specific disease condition. Many medical residents use it.

Use DiPiro and Koda-Kimble as references...but you can keep the Washinton Manual in your coat pocket.

Knowing the drugs is essential..and you can get that from a PDA. But you need a general understanding of disease...how it's diagnosed and how to treat it.

 

[npage148]

I found reading guidelines very helpful. Like the ADA's managemnt of DM, JNC7, CHF, ID adn so forth. They really help direct you in the right direction with treatment. The big textbooks are too broad and widespread and provide good info but do not help to direct therapy. This is probabaly the biggest thing that helped me

For ID struggles grab sanford's. Not only is it the ultimate general ID handbook but it provides tons of references to guidelines and detailed manuscripts

 

[MountainPharmD]

Ok, well now that i have your attention, i need some serious help.

I do not know about the rest of you out there, but i am getting my butt kicked on rotations. Things that i should know from school, i do not know- things that should be relatively easy to understand using knowledge from school are difficult for me. What can i do now to get to the point where i should be? Get Dipro or Koda-Kimble and start reading away?? I am to the point where i am fustrated. 😡 What am i to do now?! Please help me.

thanks

First, take a deep breath and relax. Your rotations are a class, you are still a student, therefore you are still learning. No one should expect you to be an expert on your rotations. Sure, you need a good understanding of the basics but you will be far from an expert. This is especially true on specialty rotaions like ICU and oncology. The goal should be to know more at the end than you did when you started.

Preparation is always a good thing as well. If you have an oncology rotation the week before you start get Dipiro's or Goodmans and read up on it. With all the information on the internet and your textbooks there is no reason not to be prepared.

 

[sdn1977]

Yeah....I like Washington Manual" - its good to keep with you & you can read while you are waiting for rotations to start or eating or whatever...

Keep Koda-Kimble & take it out during your "blocks" - when you need endocrine, cardio, kinetics generally, etc....but keep it at home & use it - mine is well-thumbed!

Get a system going of note cards for the drugs you use on rotations. In PICU - you won't need too many estrogen/progesterone combinations so you can save those for another rotation....but you will need lots of others...only keep key facts:
1. MOA & site of action & drug class
2. Dosage for your age group
3. Side effect profile
4. Monitoring parameters

Finally.....as Mountain said...take a deep breath. PICU scares even those of us who are seasoned. I wouldn't trade anything in my life for a job in PICU - so bless you & best of luck!

 

[PharmD2MD]

Get a pharmacotherapy review course binder from ACCP. It'll set you back about $85. They publish it annually. I used this binder of notes and questions during my residency rotations, to study for the CA board (pre-naplex), and for the BCPS. It's great material. Read the relevant sections as you cover the topics through out your rotations.