Drug Flash Cards driving me insane...

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Our teacher told us to make 5 x 8 flaschards with the following drugs:

Lantus, Lispro, Insulin Regular, NPH

I have a book by the title of : Mosby's Nursing Drug Reference. I have no idea if it's me, but the book does not seem straightforward at all, and their insulin section is very confusing.

Considering that I need to have the following on my flashcards, for each one:

  • Generic & Trade Names
  • Action
  • Dosage (how it is given for SL,TOP, IV, TRANSPATCH, etc.) btw I know that these do not all apply...just ex.
  • Side Effects
  • Contraindications
  • Precautions
  • Pharmacokinetics
  • ONSET
  • Administration Tips

I just do not feel like I can find it neatly in one place. They blend together these drugs in the book, and you have to remember that I am a newbie, so this isn't going to make sense off the bat when the book is all over the place.

Urgh, this shouldn't be that hard. Any suggestions or websites? I have even looked up websites..but they either don't have clear straightforward descriptions, or just don't even have this at all. I'm a little surprised, as I thought there would be an abundance of websites out there that would neatly have these. We do not need to memorize these yet, she just wants us to have them on us to carry around, and requires that we write them since it helps us remember.

Someone help me please. Thanks so much

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You can't look up "Lantus" in the index in back and go to that page?

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Yes, I can. The only thing that confuses me is that all of this stuff is on the same page. And instead of listing an action for each one..there is only one action. I'm assuming they all provide the same action..but actually..I don't want to assume that, since I am new to this and there could be a reason why they are named differently. They only give one action for all four and the side effects and nursing considerations are all one kind. They don't list different side effects or considerations for each one...so I dunno...perhaps that applies to all of them since they are all insulin?

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Yes, the side effects and action are the same for insulin, period.

The big thing is that Lantus is ALWAYS given in a separate syringe. It is, unlike the others, NEVER mixed.

:)

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Oh thanks. That helps :D Thank You. I'm going to try to do as much as I can understand from here..hopefully I can finish them. I think my brain is being abused lol.

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

http://diabetes.webmd.com/diabetes-types-insulin

I like grids better than text. Maybe this will help you too.

Be sure to know that there are sound alike-look alike insulins in vials. Novo Nordisk makes Novolog (rapid acting), Novolin R (regular, short acting) and Novolin N (intermediate acting). The dose for Novolin N is about 10 times the normal dose for Novolog. The way I remember is that, if I tried to walk on a log, I would fall off RAPIDLY.

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Specializes in ER.

The book will make more sense later on, I promise. :redpinkhe:redpinkhe

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i like medscape for my drug info.

leslie

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You're getting great feedback. I'm a newbie too. It's helped me. I figured out why some of this is so confusing. Believe it or not, there is no standardized classification system between publishers. What one calls an ACE inhibitor, the other calls a Vasodialator. They are both right. Some drugs are in several classes. Try to learn the classifications your instructor gives you. Learn those effects and plug the drugs in after that. I was told you want to remember the classifications used in clinicals. Hope that didn't muddy the water more. Good luck. Keep plugging. We're eating elephants.............one bite at a time. :up:

When I was studying for my investment license, I didn't think I would ever figure out bonds, and futures trading. I felt dumb as mud and kept digging for the pony. I had to get away from it for a while and work on other stuff. Then after a little break, a colleague of mine sat down with me and splained some thins. Actually he made me explain what I thought I knew. And, Ah Hah! It went together. I'm hoping we're going to have some of those times ahead of us.

Good luck to you. Don't quit, and don't let me! :yeah: Haha!

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Yup, they are a pain in the rear. But it's necessary to do these little exercises as part of the LEARNING experience, so get to it. As someone has already told you, the effects of Insulins are the same no matter which one is being used, but there is a big difference in formulation and onset, peak and duration of action.

You'll realize the benefits of all that pain in years to come, I promise you.

Funny thing, Insulin is something that for years and years I had to look up before giving. There were so many formulations I couldn't keep them straight in my head, so whenever I had Insulins to give I hit the drug reference for quick review first. Now that I'm older, I've found I don't have to look them up anymore. It also helps that there are fewer formulations in use now then there were twenty years ago :D

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Thanks you guys! Seriously, if you didn't inform me that certain things are the same..I wouldn't have known, as the book does not specify. I just felt a book would be REALLY clear......guess not. I finished them..thank the LORD!!! lol

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