Easy ways to remember drug values??

adventure_rn, MSN, NP · Jun 29, 2015

I did very well on the NCLEX (passed in 75 questions). Here's my two cents:

1. Don't try to memorize every single lab and drug value possible. If you try to memorize them all, it will be easier for you to get them all mixed up during the test (especially with your adrenaline pumping). Prioritize the important lab and drug values (dig and lithium are good choices) and memorize those. I'd say same goes with labs--unless you've got a photographic memory, I wouldn't memorize liver enzymes values, serum amylase, etc., if you think it will trip you up come game time. However, you might want to know which values are always supposed to be approximately zero (i.e. BNP, troponin), since any elevation in these values indicates a problem--that's easier to me than memorizing a number.

2. On a similar note, if you do have certain values memorized, you might want to write them down on the whiteboard they give you at the start of the test. Now, they specifically won't allow you to write any notes down during the first 5 minutes of the test to prevent 'brain dumping,' but after that you can write yourself notes. I found it helpful to write down my references ranges as soon as I was allowed. That way, when I focused on tricky critical thinking questions I could simply refer to my reference range without having to stop my thought process and try to remember a lab value. Your brain may start to feel fried by the middle of the exam and you could start to mix up values that you could have remembered when you were fresh.

3. When I memorized my reference values, I fudged the numbers a bit if it made them easier for me to remember. For instance, I was taught that the normal range for calcium is 8.6 to 10.1 I memorized it for the NCLEX as 8.5 to 10 since it was easier to remember. Even if it isn't perfectly precise, when asked about a value in a question, you'll still be able to figure out from that range if the value is normal, borderline high/low, or extremely high/low, and what the clinical significance will be.

4. One reference that helped me study was the Saunders NCLEX review book. It has a whole chapter devoted to lab values. This book covers all nursing topics (fundamentals, pharm, peds, maternity, psych, med-surg topics) and has great practice questions.

Best of luck!

shelby929 · Jun 29, 2015

I did very well on the NCLEX (passed in 75 questions). Here's my two cents:
1. Don't try to memorize every single lab and drug value possible. If you try to memorize them all, it will be easier for you to get them all mixed up during the test (especially with your adrenaline pumping). Prioritize the important lab and drug values (dig and lithium are good choices) and memorize those. I'd say same goes with labs--unless you've got a photographic memory, I wouldn't memorize liver enzymes values, serum amylase, etc., if you think it will trip you up come game time. However, you might want to know which values are always supposed to be approximately zero (i.e. BNP, troponin), since any elevation in these values indicates a problem--that's easier to me than memorizing a number.
2. On a similar note, if you do have certain values memorized, you might want to write them down on the whiteboard they give you at the start of the test. Now, they specifically won't allow you to write any notes down during the first 5 minutes of the test to prevent 'brain dumping,' but after that you can write yourself notes. I found it helpful to write down my references ranges as soon as I was allowed. That way, when I focused on tricky critical thinking questions I could simply refer to my reference range without having to stop my thought process and try to remember a lab value. Your brain may start to feel fried by the middle of the exam and you could start to mix up values that you could have remembered when you were fresh.
3. When I memorized my reference values, I fudged the numbers a bit if it made them easier for me to remember. For instance, I was taught that the normal range for calcium is 8.6 to 10.1 I memorized it for the NCLEX as 8.5 to 10 since it was easier to remember. Even if it isn't perfectly precise, when asked about a value in a question, you'll still be able to figure out from that range if the value is normal, borderline high/low, or extremely high/low, and what the clinical significance will be.
4. One reference that helped me study was the Saunders NCLEX review book. It has a whole chapter devoted to lab values. This book covers all nursing topics (fundamentals, pharm, peds, maternity, psych, med-surg topics) and has great practice questions.
Best of luck!

Awesome!!! I appreciate your information and glad to hear from someone who already took the test. I was only going to memorize the lab values mentioned in the NCSBN test plan, and then I guess I will pick drugs that are most important as you said. Also I like that tip of the ones that are normally zero. It will make it easier to remember for sure. Thanks again!

adventure_rn, MSN, NP · Jun 30, 2015

Happy to help. You've got this! Very soon, you will have an RN at the end of your name :)