Drug memorization

Music in My Heart · Jun 22, 2008

Well, to some degree, it is just what you describe.

I found it helpful to do it by category.

I also found it helpful to look up proper pronunciation.

After that it was just repetition.

Pretty in Ink · Jun 24, 2008

You should break down the drugs by catagory 1st. Then something that helped me remember the generic and trade name was to remember them together instead of seperately. Plus there is acouple hints like knowing beta blockers end in "olol" or ace inhibitors end in "pril" so you just get the hang of it after awhile. Mostly though there really is no cut and dry way to remember them all. Most names have no rhyme or reason but during clinicals especially you will learn the ones you give out the most. Those you will get down pat and throughout your program you will get the hang of it.

ADPIE10 · Jun 27, 2008

Hello all,
I was wondering if anyone had any tips on memorizing drug names? I myself am having a very difficult time with this, there seems to be no logic or pattern as in normal medical terminology, just nonsense!!

Of course, I'll have to ask why? If you've had pharmacology for nursing, then they instructors will typically give you their tips.

If you are in clinicals and a drug doesn't sound familiar, then memorizing the name of a drug is the least of your worries. You'll need to look it up if you are remotely unfamiliar. A prudent and reasonable nurse would never administer a drug without being familiar with the information in a typical drug guide for nurses.

Thus... memorizing the drug names probably won't be a problem. The names will stick as you use your new vocabulary. :yeah:

greenfaery · Jun 27, 2008

Of course, I'll have to ask why? If you've had pharmacology for nursing, then they instructors will typically give you their tips.
If you are in clinicals and a drug doesn't sound familiar, then memorizing the name of a drug is the least of your worries. You'll need to look it up if you are remotely unfamiliar. A prudent and reasonable nurse would never administer a drug without being familiar with the information in a typical drug guide for nurses.
Thus... memorizing the drug names probably won't be a problem. The names will stick as you use your new vocabulary.

Oh I'm taking pharmacology for nursing at the moment, but it's online and I have ZERO instructor guidance. So I mainly just need to memorize for testing, but of course I expect to look up the drugs I give to patients in clinicals as well. I'm just having a hard time retaining all these drug names and I feel like I won't really remember any of this when I go back to my nursing program in fall!

Danusia522 · Jun 27, 2008

Of course, I'll have to ask why? If you've had pharmacology for nursing, then they instructors will typically give you their tips.

I'm in the same boat, we need to memorize up to 40 drugs for each exam spaning for about 4-5 units. And we can get tested on any of them, some exmas only have one question about the action and others have 10 questions. And there is no way of knowing which ones they will ask and how in depth they will be. :no:

ADPIE10 · Jun 27, 2008

Oh I'm taking pharmacology for nursing at the moment, but it's online and I have ZERO instructor guidance. So I mainly just need to memorize for testing, but of course I expect to look up the drugs I give to patients in clinicals as well. I'm just having a hard time retaining all these drug names and I feel like I won't really remember any of this when I go back to my nursing program in fall!

I just took pharmacology for nursing this spring. The instructor focused upon drug categories and it was important to know the name of the drugs that fell into each category. Although the questions referred to specific names, the question usually focused upon some aspect of mechanism of action, nursing implication, patient education, desired outcomes, etc. Certain drugs had specific things that we should know. An example would be the use of ASA (aspirin) and children. Tetracycline and its effect on the teeth of children.

I didn't know what to expect until after I took my first test. I don't know what my nursing program expects either, but I like having Davis' Drug Guide for nursing loaded on my notebook computer and performing quick lookups. If this helps: I volunteer in an Emergency Department and I've noticed that the nurses haven't memorized all of the drugs that they administer.