Retaining information in pharmacy school

[PFK]

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As I am being peppered with tons of information on toxicology, med chem, therapeutics, drug cards, I am wondering how much of it important to know to be good pharmacist. I spend good time reading Dipiro to understand the pathophys, spaced repitition flash cards, memorizing guidelines for many diff classes and see others cram and get good grades or get by saying we don't need to learn much for retail or "you can look up everything".

I feel like I am wasting too much time or would it really helpful on rotations and later on ? It would be disheartening to not use the knowledge. Also, i feel like if I don't put much effort, I can good grades on tests but it's difficult to recall information cold. That's why it's taking time to learn because I want to be able to recall information and be able to explain. Just thoughts..

 

[Misaenator]

As I am being peppered with tons of information on toxicology, med chem, therapeutics, drug cards, I am wondering how much of it important to know to be good pharmacist. I spend good time reading Dipiro to understand the pathophys, spaced repitition flash cards, memorizing guidelines for many diff classes and see others cram and get good grades or get by saying we don't need to learn much for retail or "you can look up everything".

I feel like I am wasting too much time or would it really helpful on rotations and later on ? It would be disheartening to not use the knowledge. Also, i feel like if I don't put much effort, I can good grades on tests but it's difficult to recall information cold. That's why it's taking time to learn because I want to be able to recall information and be able to explain. Just thoughts..

Mostly what you said is true, but one thing i learned from my undergrad and grad school that you know yourself best. It doesn't matter what and how others study. When it comes to the exams, you are the on that takes and passes them. So why even stress over what others think or feel anyway? It's great that they know certain things are not gonna be used in certain pharmacy settings, but hey it's them, it's their opinions. I would consider them but that doesn't mean I'll do it. Passing and getting good grades on the exams are what counts, worry about whether the materials will be used later on is another story. You don't pass the exam, the joke is on you. Whoever said oh this is needed for retails, those needed for clinical, ok cool. I'll put that in consideration. But i still need to pass and score well on my exams so I can graduate, period.

So as far as retaining info, just try to soak them in as much as you can, and score well on the exams. Everything else comes after you graduate or even before if you get to work somewhere who has an offer. Just my 2 cents. Hope it makes some sense.

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[PFK]

Mostly what you said is true, but one thing i learned from my undergrad and grad school that you know yourself best. It doesn't matter what and how others study. When it comes to the exams, you are the on that takes and passes them. So why even stress over what others think or feel anyway? It's great that they know certain things are not gonna be used in certain pharmacy settings, but hey it's them, it's their opinions. I would consider them but that doesn't mean I'll do it. Passing and getting good grades on the exams are what counts, worry about whether the materials will be used later on is another story. You don't pass the exam, the joke is on you. Whoever said oh this is needed for retails, those needed for clinical, ok cool. I'll put that in consideration. But i still need to pass and score well on my exams so I can graduate, period.

So as far as retaining info, just try to soak them in as much as you can, and score well on the exams. Everything else comes after you graduate or even before if you get to work somewhere who has an offer. Just my 2 cents. Hope it makes some sense.

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Yeah but I am just seeking opinions from practicing pharmacists if I am on the right track studying wise and retaining information to the level of detail necessary. I am passing all the classes.

 

[Misaenator]

Yeah but I am just seeking opinions from practicing pharmacists if I am on the right track studying wise and retaining information to the level of detail necessary. I am passing all the classes.

Are you still in school or you got your license already? I'm confused.

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[PFK]

Are you still in school or you got your license already? I'm confused.

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I am a P2

 

[Misaenator]

I am a P2

Ok, since you mentioned you're seeking advices/opinions from practicing pharmacists then I hope some current RPhs will happen to see your requests for info and give some tips on retaining info. My thing is there're so much info out there that we can only retain, therefore why not focus on one thing which is the materials given at hands, and when it comes to practicing the knowledge, most of the time we have to do our own researches and look up info ourselves anyway. I notice that in most of pharmacy settings (either retail, clinical, or compounding, etc), it doesnt matter how much you know, its about how fast you can look up the info in timely manner, some people are really good at searching for info. There're lot of scopes of pharmacy practice out there that require different expertise, there's no common core of knowing what useful and not while in school so we can apply later on anyway imo.

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[KidPharmD]

Classroom work is about building your knowledge base. You will NOT retain all that information the first time. That's okay. Study in a way that you understand what is going on even if small details slip your brain. Learning facts is a basis for understanding concepts. If you really get how a drug acts in the body, you don't have to remember a list of side effects or interactions because it will come by reasoning. Learn rules and their exceptions if you want to know what will help you in practice.

 

[mustang sally]

Just do the best you can in school and when you go on rotations. It's impossible (and unnecessary) to retain all of that info, and it's also impossible to say what you are going to need to know once you're a pharmacist since every job is different. I get unexpected questions thrown at me every day that I don't really think I could have prepared myself for. But having said that, you will figure out what it is you need to know for the day-to-day stuff once you start working.

 

[Muse600]

you don't use much as a retail pharmacist...just drug/dose/indication/brand name/side effects/interactions from therapeutics & some otc

I can already tell you can't figure out where to focus your efforts because you divulge into dipiro

stop wasting time, get smart, focus on what the exams test you on, and review it all 3 times

 

[Rockinacoustic]

Not to sound like a broken record, but if you don't already have one then get an job/internship. You'll be at a severe disadvantage come start of rotations if you're putting your knowledge to work for the first time.

 

[PFK]

you don't use much as a retail pharmacist...just drug/dose/indication/brand name/side effects/interactions from therapeutics & some otc

I can already tell you can't figure out where to focus your efforts because you divulge into dipiro

stop wasting time, get smart, focus on what the exams test you on, and review it all 3 times

I am more interested in doing residency and clinical pharmacy. Currently, I am an intern at CVS.

 

[Misaenator]

I am more interested in doing residency and clinical pharmacy. Currently, I am an intern at CVS.

Doesnt that what everybody want anyway??? Getting a residency and secure a clinical pharmacy position is really huge these time and day. But hey, if thats what you're going after, i wish you the best. And the retaining info is pretty much straightfwd fr what others suggested.

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[thephoenician88]

As I am being peppered with tons of information on toxicology, med chem, therapeutics, drug cards, I am wondering how much of it important to know to be good pharmacist. I spend good time reading Dipiro to understand the pathophys, spaced repitition flash cards, memorizing guidelines for many diff classes and see others cram and get good grades or get by saying we don't need to learn much for retail or "you can look up everything".

I feel like I am wasting too much time or would it really helpful on rotations and later on ? It would be disheartening to not use the knowledge. Also, i feel like if I don't put much effort, I can good grades on tests but it's difficult to recall information cold. That's why it's taking time to learn because I want to be able to recall information and be able to explain. Just thoughts..

you're overthinking it. focus on school as P2. Focus on school and work as p3. P4 understand what knowledge you will need and how you will use it.

the fact is, the retail pharmacists remembers certain things the hospital pharmacist doesn't

the hospital pharmacist uses things on a daily basis that a retail pharmacist wouldn't and doesn't need to know, but should know a basic understanding of

"you're going into retail pharmacy anyway" - don't be so sure