Pharmacology

Trauma Columnist · Jan 23, 2017

Please take this for what its worth (which may be nothing). NP school is not like RN education - don't sweat it with flashcards, memorization, etc..

When you get out do you really want to use just your memory for prescribing? I don't - figure out which resources are going to be best friend.

Get a gold standard - whatever your institution uses and use it.

Rocknurse, MSN, APRN, NP · Jan 23, 2017

I didn't use flashcards but I did make myself a big powerpoint with all the drug classes in different colors. And then I made seperate powerpoints for each class listing most common meds, interactions and important points on in the same corresponding color for that class as the main powerpoint. That way I could easily associate a particular med with a particular color and it would job my memory as to which class it belonged. Also, watch tons of YouTube videos on each drug class. There are some really excellent ones out there for med students and they help you understand the mechanisms and important points for each. Rote memorization is easily forgotten but when you understand the actual mechanism it helps you remember.

allnurses Guide · Jan 23, 2017

At this level flash cards don't work. You need to understand how each drug works. If anything, in preparation, study basic renal and hepatic physiology.

sarah7694 · Jan 23, 2017

I was just talking about this with a friend. You're right, i do not want to memorize but rather find a way to break them down to better facilitate understanding and learning them. I want to be good at what I do and I'm trying to prepare myself so that I can absorb as much as possible.