Dreaded drug cards made a little easier

RN-BamaStudent · Feb 14, 2004

It was great during our first semester, but second level is a different story, they won't let us copy and paste, so back to the pen :crying2:

Wheaties · Feb 16, 2004

thanks so much for the tip.

now i can just cut and paste. that tip is so useful, i bet that cuts down the time i make my med cards by 75%.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Feb 16, 2004

My drug cards are getting done very large index cards, printed on the computer. We HAVE to use the drug book that the cirriculum lists. And when we make our drug sheets for our clinical paperwork, we have to write about ALL the drugs our pts. are on.

Instead i type mine. I saved them in alphabetical order under the brand name. So for things like Tylenol, Colace or Morphine, all i have to do is copy, paste, and adjust the order for that drug that was written. If i have a new drug, i type it up and save it for later.

If my pt. has 24 drugs, usually 15 of them are already saved on my computer. All i have to do is copy and paste the 15, then type up the other 9 and save those for later. :)

kats · Feb 17, 2004

I am hoping to get into nursing school this Fall so I don't really know what is required for writing up the drug cards. Are they dependent on the particular patients you are caring for or do you just have to write them up for a certain amount of specified drugs? What information do you need to write on each card? Do you just use index cards? I was just wondering and thinking if they weren't specific to patients, then I could start working on them now. Just a thought since it sounds like they take so much time.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Feb 17, 2004

It all depends on what the instructor wants as to what goes on each card.

twintoo · Feb 17, 2004

We also use this book. As an optional purchase we could get the "Nurse's Med Deck" which are already made drug cards that we turn in. We highlight key info when we turn them in. Also, if when using the CD you cannot find newer drugs go to http://www.drugguide.com and you can find the newer drugs there to print out! :) Good Luck!

Wheaties · Feb 18, 2004

the teachers just wants to make sure you know what you're giving. and some of the med cards you do will carry on when you finally become a nurse, you can just say, oh i know what digoxin is, and what i need to watch out for. etc....

but i got a question, when we do finally become a nurse (the people who are still going to school), and we are taking care of patients, do we have to look at what meds we are giving for every patient? (for the ones we dont know), we have to look at the drug book before giving it to them? we can't give it unless we know what it is.

i understand why we need to find out about the drug, because some drugs we cant give unless they are within range of the Pulse rate, BP rate, lab test etc..

nekhismom · Feb 18, 2004

You can't just purchase pre-printed index card sized drug cards??? Those made my life MUCH easier. BTW, I've got a set if anyone's interested!

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Feb 18, 2004

Our drug cards have to be made, because we turn them in at the end of the year for a grade. And boy does that suck lol.

ChicagolandRN · Feb 18, 2004

but i got a question, when we do finally become a nurse (the people who are still going to school), and we are taking care of patients, do we have to look at what meds we are giving for every patient? (for the ones we dont know), we have to look at the drug book before giving it to them? we can't give it unless we know what it is.

The answer is YES!! :wink2:

majicalblue · Feb 19, 2004

The Davis's Med Deck is really good too!