Studying for your first pharmacology exam can be quite a daunting task. I think that pharmacology is like learning a whole new language. The words all sound funny and you have to learn so many things about each drug, including it's mechanism of action, side effects, concerns, contraindications, and doses. So at first, it all seemed very overwhelming and I didn't know where to begin. There are different ways to study for it, but today I wanted to share the way that's been tried and tested by myself and some dear friends of mine. Organization: make your charts, your tables, flashcards, or any other form of study guide that floats your boat but organize the material in way that makes sense to you. One of my friends from class makes a study guide for each lecture (pictures included at the end of the post; shoutout to Jocelyn!) which helps me out tremendously. Just reading the PowerPoints wasn't working for me and seeing it in a table format makes learning the drugs so much easier. Learn the classes of drugs first: start with the big picture and zoom in later. By that I mean, group the drugs by their classes, then add the MOAs, SE, CI, etc. For example, if you're learning about antibiotics, group them by whether they're beta lactams, tetracyclines, fluoroquinoloes, aminoglycosides, or macrolides. Then go in and add the sub-groups and the specific drugs (see picture below). Suffixes are your friends: usually most (or at least a few) of the drugs in the same class will end with the same suffix. For example, drugs used to treat hyperlipidemia all end in -statin (atorvastatin, rosuvastatin, etc.) MOA: sometimes you just have to memorize the mechanism of actions, but most of the time if you think about what you're giving the drug for and know the pathophysiology, it will make sense to you. Doses and side effects (SE): We're not required to know all the doses for each drug but the major ones we need to know are emphasized. I have no tricks for that unfortunately. You just gotta memorize them. As far as the side effects, learn what the MAJOR ones for each drug. Anytime you prescribe any drug to a patient, chances are 9/10 times the side effects will include either nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or headache. So focus more on the unique SEs, like red man syndrome with Vancomycin. Contraindications and concerns: just because we have a concern about using a certain drug with a certain patient population doesn't mean that we NEVER give it to them. It just means that we exhaust all options before we would consider giving them that drug. Contraindications, on the other hand, mean that you DON'T ever give them that drug. Know your CYP inhibitors, inducers, and substrates: I don't know about other pharm professors, but ours likes to make sure we know about these because they're important in durg-drug interactions. Come up with as many silly/funny ways to remember the details: my friend Rachel (who made an appearance here) is the mastermind behind coming up with creative ways to do this. Sure, the rest of us come up with stories to remember the drugs too, but her creative juices surpass all of ours put together. And remember, the funnier and the more inappropriate the story, the better your chances of remembering it. Trust me ;) Study groups and repetition: as I always say, study ahead of time. Pharm is one class you can't cram for even if you try to. There's too many details and you're bound to forget them if you don't repeat your exposure to them. I also find it so helpful to study with my friends. We all have different ways of learning but learn so much from each other's thought processes, even if it's just one review sesh the night before the exam. White boards are your best friends: write out the most important things about each drug and whatever else you need to know on whiteboards to learn, quiz, or organize your thoughts. All four of us in my study group do this and find it very helpful. (antibiotics grouped by classes) (chart of drugs with all the details) What are some ways that you study for your pharmacology class? Leave your suggestions or questions in the comments! You can subscribe via email or find me on Bloglovin' to make sure you never miss a blog post! You can also follow me on Instagram get more frequent updates about my PA school experiences.

Stephanie (S) : My name is Stephanie Howard and I am a physician assistant. I live in Knoxville, Tennessee and I’ve been practicing obstetrics and gynecology since I graduated in 2010. Savanna | The PA Platform (TPP) : Has that been your only job? S : Yes, I actually did a rotation with thi

If you are applying to PA school, the personal statement is one of the most important documents you will write. Learn how to avoid common pitfalls and craft an essay that makes an impression on CASPA and will get you into the PA school of your choice.

The Physician Assistant School and Program Directory is a FREE, comprehensive and interactive guide for prospective PA school applicants, used to find information about every available PA program all in one place. This directory uses location specific, categorical search and is updated for accuracy every 6 months. You can search by program length, tuition, degree type, GRE requirements, perquisite healthcare experience, GPA, CASPA participation, class size and much much more.

Essentials for supporting Physician’s Assistants (PA-S) and Certified Physician’s Assistants (PA-C) in a stripped down, need-to-know 6 page laminated guide to the PANCE/PANRE registry exam. Focus is on exam content areas that are important in practice analysis as outlined by the NCCPA. The study guide is split into the content task areas that the NCCPA has highlighted in their exam content blueprint. To increase scores for certification and recertification this guide is a must-have. 6-page laminated guide includes: OverviewHistory-Taking SkillsRisk Factors For Selected Medical ConditionsPerforming Physical ExaminationsLaboratory StudiesDiagnostic StudiesClinical InterventionFormulating DiagnosesHealth MaintenancePharmaceutical TherapeuticsBasic Science ConceptsOrgan System Disorders

Gastrointestinal study notes made by using the PA matrix, based on NICE guidelines for UK PA students. PA Study Smart assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in the content of this work. The information contained in this document is provided on an "as is" basis with no guarantees of completeness, accuracy, usefulness, or timeliness. This work is the property of @PAStudySmart and must not be copied in its entirety or resold in any way. This Digital Work is for PERSONAL USE ONLY and distribution of the work is prohibited without written permission from the writers. This work is protected by UK Copyright Law ©

Everything Antibiotic for PA students, by PA students! We hope you love!! DISCLAIMER: PA Study Smart assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in the content of this work. The information contained in this document is provided on an "as is" basis with no guarantees of completeness, accuracy, usefulness, or timeliness. This work is the property of @PAStudySmart and must not be copied in its entirety or resold in any way. This Digital Work is for PERSONAL USE ONLY and distribution of the work is prohibited without written permission from the writers. This work is protected by UK Copyright Law ©

We get the question all the time about PA vs NP salary comparison. So we decided to answer in some detail. It’s a great question, but it’s hard to find good data on NP salaries because the Bureau of Labor Statistics, where NP salaries are tracked, lumps them in with the salaries of regular nurses. … Continue reading PA vs NP: Salary Comparison

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The Very Best Medical Apps for Physician Assistants and Medical Practitioners. This list is updated regularly and includes the Essential Apps I use every day in clinic. Designed for students, residents, and practicing medical professionals.

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Here is my ultimate PA school applicant cheat sheet with 7 quick tips for getting into PA school. Do these seven things for the best chance of getting into PA school and becoming a physician assistant! 1. Shadowing: Get one hundred hours of shadowing experience across various specialties. 2. GRE: Aim for a score of 300 + (150 +Here is my ultimate PA school applicant cheat sheet with 7 quick tips for getting into PA school. Do these seven things for the best chance of getting into PA school and becoming a physician assistant! 1. Shadowing: Get one hundred hours of shadowing experience across various specialties. 2. GRE: Aim for a score of 300 + (150 +

"Can you tell me what a PA is?" This is a simple question with a complex answer - It is one of the most common questions posed during a PA school interview. We will teach you how to navigate this question by deep-diving into the essence of a PA and offering guidance on how to answer this question in a personally meaningful and authentic way during an interview.Introduction: A Simple Question with a Complex Answer "Can you tell me what a PA is?" This is one of the most common questions posed during a PA school interview and one you would think is easy to answer. Yet, even with my extensive 18 years of experience in the field, I find myself carefully

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Earlier this month, the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA) released its third Student Report, comprised of data from the 2018 Matriculating Student and End of Program Surveys. While the Matriculating Student Survey (MSS) has been around for a while, the End of Program Survey (EOPS),

In this post, we'll look at five sample PA school essays from pre-PAs that have just been accepted into PA school. Personal statements from students who got into PA school and these are the essays they submitted through CASPA.

This was a LIVE recording on April 19, 2017. In this video, I go over how to apply for PA school and everything you need to know about CASPA. For most up-to-date CASPA information, please visit the CASPA website. Please comment with any questions you make have. Are you preparing to apply to P

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Here is the ultimate Physician Assistant Program Admissions Timeline for applying to PA school. When you should apply (start early) along with a monthly PA School application to-do list for guaranteed CASPA application successHere is the general timeline for applying to PA school Generally, applications are submitted one year prior to the year you plan to attend. Note: complete applications are better than early ones, but with rolling admissions, earlier submissions are frequently better! Years Before You Apply Get your prerequisites - every school is different, so make sure to

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What is a PA (physician associate/physician assistant)? PAs are licensed clinicians who practice medicine in every specialty and setting.

Hand writing notes has been my go-to strategy since my freshman year of undergrad and when something just won’t stick, I write it until it does.

Learn key differences between PA vs MD (Physician Assistants and Medical Doctors), including education, cost, roles, autonomy, and salary.

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Here is the ultimate Physician Assistant Program Admissions Timeline for applying to PA school. When you should apply (start early) along with a monthly PA School application to-do list for guaranteed CASPA application successHere is the general timeline for applying to PA school Generally, applications are submitted one year prior to the year you plan to attend. Note: complete applications are better than early ones, but with rolling admissions, earlier submissions are frequently better! Years Before You Apply Get your prerequisites - every school is different, so make sure to

To be or not to be, a PA or an NP? There are plenty of potential career paths you can take in the world of healthcare. If you see yourself practicing medicine, but you’re not quite destined for full-blown medical school, then these two pathways may be right for you. There are a few differences and similarities between being a nurse practitioner and a physician's assistant. Read below to compare and contrast the two and find out which is the best choice. Similarities Between PAs & NPs PAs and NPs are both licensed healthcare providers who go through clinical training,

The Pre-PA Advisor Series Welcome to the PA Advisors Series - a special series of posts where PA school applicants like yourself ask the tough questions and admissions directors from top-ranking PA schools provide the answers. This post is also included as part five of our five-part series "The 5 steps to PA school." Today WeThe Pre-PA Advisor Series Welcome to the PA Advisors Series - a special series of posts where PA school applicants like yourself ask the tough questions and admissions directors from top-ranking PA schools provide the answers. This post is also included as part five of our five-part series "The 5 steps to PA school." Today We

If you have three, four, or even five months until you start PA school, here are three things you can do right now to make sure you are prepared for when you walk in the door.It's kind of unfair, isn't it? You have been working your butt off for months (probably years), taking all the necessary steps to get into PA school. You rocked your personal statement, crushed your interview, and then the acceptance letter finally arrived! You are jumping up and down, crying aloud, shouting to the rooftops. You

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