I am taking the pharmacology ATI next week. I MUST pass with a proficiency level 2 in order to pass this class. I have been reading the ATI book and I have access to a few practice tests. I'm getting a lot of the drugs mixed up at this point. Does anyone have any other ideas or tips that would help me pass..it would be greatly appreciated!

Drug classification tables!!! These are what enabled me to score a 3 on the pharmacology ATI test.

Make charts for the major drug classifications with generic and trade names, why the drug is taken, the drug's action in the body, major adverse effects, what you need to assess as a nurse in a patient who is taking the drug, what nursing interventions and teaching you may need to perform for a patient who is taking the drug, and what you will be evaluating for in a patient who is taking the drug. Do this for anti-infectives, antacids, anti-hypertensive drugs, antidepressants, bronchodilators, diuretics, hormones, anti-arrhythmics, analgesics, muscle relaxants, anti-psychotics, etc.

This may be time consuming, but try to keep your tables concise, and the more classifications you include and study, the better you will do!

Good luck!