Buying VS. making drug cards; need advice

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Second semester student, 4th week in. We're starting (started, I'm a wee bit behind!) drug cards in Pharm, and I'm faced with a dilemma. Our bookstore sells pre-made drug cards with everything you need. But, I could also make them myself. I can't decide which to do. Does anyone have any insight? Thanks in advance!

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Specializes in CVICU.

I'm confused. Do you mean you're starting to receive assignments to do drug cards over certain medications? In that case, wouldn't buying premade ones from the bookstore just be a form of cheating? How is the bookstore allowed to do that? Usually, drug cards are assigned so that students understand what needs to be considered about that drug before administering it (potential side effects, criteria for administering it, forms of the drug, etc) and they use drug books to type/write up this information.

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Make them yourself. First, it will save you money. Second, writing them out with help you learn and remember them instead of just memorizing.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

check out this thread....Pharmacology Flashcards

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I would write them out my yourself based on the info your instructor wants you to know. Premade cards have tons of info that you may or may not need and you can't add little tidbits that you might need to know. I've never been a fan of supplemental study aids because I usually can't afford them. Making your own cards of so much cheaper because you can get a pack of 100 cards for like a dollar and you can learn by looking g everything up and writing it. You can't buy 100 premade cards for a buck!!

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It really depends on what you prefer and how you like to learn. Some find it better to make their own cause you're learning the info as you write, and others find it better to buy the cards. I personally preferred to buy my Pharm cards cause I didn't want to miss any info and I can always add any notes to them if I need to.

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I never let my students use boughten pharm cards. If they wanted to buy them and copy them, ok, but I found that they learned a lot more by having that one more route for the material to get into their brains.

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I would write them out my yourself based on the info your instructor wants you to know. Premade cards have tons of info that you may or may not need and you can't add little tidbits that you might need to know. I've never been a fan of supplemental study aids because I usually can't afford them. Making your own cards of so much cheaper because you can get a pack of 100 cards for like a dollar and you can learn by looking g everything up and writing it. You can't buy 100 premade cards for a buck!!

Speaking about supplementals...

I knew people with 5+ supplemental books that failed, later they admitted they poorly allocated their time and became overwhelmed with so many supplementals.

I honestly don't like them. Why? Because I want to know MORE in depth, a depth that nursing books sometimes unfortunately don't reach as it is and supplementals are even more condensed.

Thanks to Esme I downloaded the MedScape app and it's lovely!

In my last semester now I do have a comprehensive review book and it's pulling everything together... but it's by no means my learning source.

OP,

In my opinion? Make them yourself. Get some markers and colored pencils. Have some fun with it. You can even get them laminated. Don't fall into the trick of relying 100% on memory gimmicks Please make sure you understand your drugs and your life will be easier! =)

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I make all my med cards...I put the info my instructor tells us to put on them plus any additional info I think I might need..I keep them with me everywhere...and in clinical if I learn something new about a med..I check my card to make sure its on there.

I find the premade cards too overwhelming!

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Speaking about supplementals... I knew people with 5+ supplemental books that failed later they admitted they poorly allocated their time and became overwhelmed with so many supplementals. I honestly don't like them. Why? Because I want to know MORE in depth, a depth that nursing books sometimes unfortunately don't reach as it is and supplementals are even more condensed. Thanks to Esme I downloaded the MedScape app and it's lovely! In my last semester now I do have a comprehensive review book and it's pulling everything together... but it's by no means my learning source. OP, In my opinion? Make them yourself. Get some markers and colored pencils. Have some fun with it. You can even get them laminated. Don't fall into the trick of relying 100% on memory gimmicks Please make sure you understand your drugs and your life will be easier! =)[/quote']

I completely agree! I feel like people sometimes rely too much on the supplemental books/study aids and they end up missing the basic point and get lost with all the additional reading. The instructor assigned the textbook for a reason, you paid for it so use it! Now I have no problem with using these books in addition to a main textbook, but only for clarification of concepts that you might not quite grasp from the actual book.

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Specializes in public health, women's health, reproductive health.

Whatever works best for you. Find out what that is and do it. There is only so much time in a day.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
Whatever works best for you. Find out what that is and do it. There is only so much time in a day.

THIS.

In my experience, pre made Pharm cards had the information that was needed; I've made my own in the past as well.

I love the PharmPhlash cards from the success series...I found that to be essential in helping me connect the dots.

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