Best Techniques to study Pharmacology for nursing

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I am currently in Pharmacology and just finished my nursing informatics class today. I'm not sure if it is was because I was studying both classes or not but I seem to be having problems with Pharmacology. I read the chapters and skim over and over, read the lecture notes, practice questions, flashcards etc. but I seem to be missing something. I only have 3 more exams and and a final to increase my grade. Can anyone give me any advice on additional things I can do to help me retain this information. I'm hoping now that I do not have the other class and back to back tests I will do better but still any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank You :)

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

Maybe some different flash cards...from a member of AN!

https://allnurses.com/pharmacology-flashcards-drug-cards-t394218/

2 Votes

This video may be helpful too:

Specializes in L&D.

Well my post won't be as helpful as the last two posters, but what really helps me is memorizing the suffix of medications. (example: -olol means beta blocker) This helps me remember the general side effects of those meds. Also, if a medication has really specific warnings/directions, memorize that on top of the general stuff for that group of meds. Hope this helps.

2 Votes

Thank you so very much, I appreciate it. ?

1 Votes

One of the things that I found helpful was not memorizing the information for each medication individually. Instead, I grouped them into categories (ex. beta blockers or ace inhibitors) and learned their side effects, actions and contraindications. Then if there were specific side effects for a certain med, like Steven Johnson's Syndrome, I learned that. Our program really focused on knowing what to do and when. So knowing when to hold a med or when a side effect was life threatening or not was essential to getting an A in the class. Pharm is a difficult class but definitely doable. Learning 100 meds is hard but breaking them down into 8 groups is much easier.

2 Votes
Specializes in Peds PACU & Peds Psych.

Pharm has been easier for me because rather than having a specific pharm class, we learn the meds with the units (i.e. during our GI unit we learned GI meds, endocrine meds during endocrine unit, etc). I don't know if you have access to ATI, but their "Pharmacology Made Easy" module has helped me a lot. Like someone else said, remembering drugs can be easier if you remember that most drugs in a category will end in the same suffix (-sone = steroid, i.e. prednisone, dexamethasone, etc). Good luck to you!

2 Votes

I personally was really scared about Pharm, especially because my teacher said if you struggled in A&P then you will have a hard time in Pharm. (I hated A&P, so therefore I didn't do as well as I could of). BUT honestly, I make flash cards and that's it. I find going to all my classes and taking notes while I'm there is HUGE. I'm a study the night before type person though 2 days at most. I just keep reading my flash cards over and over and then I will have my bf do them with me which helps alot. Saying it out loud and he's not in nursing so he says all words ridiculously which actually makes them stick in my head more (and it's fun). I always learn the classifications, the drugs by what your using them for (HTN, Angina...) and ALWAYS the major side effects and food interactions and drug to drug interactions. This works for me, I use flash cards for all my classes usually. It works for me, but you need to find what works for you. But truthfully going to classes and not sitting in the back row where you get distracted by the ppl who like to talk. Good luck. ?

2 Votes
PalmHarborMom said:
One of the things that I found helpful was not memorizing the information for each medication individually. Instead, I grouped them into categories (ex. beta blockers or ace inhibitors) and learned their side effects, actions and contraindications. Then if there were specific side effects for a certain med, like Steven Johnson's Syndrome, I learned that.

This is definitely the easiest way to do it for me. Lots of my classmates have been successful making flashcards. I take a piece of computer paper and write the class of medication at the top (ex. cholinergic, beta blocker, antidepressant, adrenergic agonist, etc). Then I write what the medication does, the prototype and other drugs we need to know in the class, side effects, contraindications, if it has a common suffix, and any other nursing implications (don't take with high protein food, hold if bp or respirations are under a certain amount). I also highlight the class of drugs with different colors (cholinergic I did pink and anticholinergics I did blue since those are opposite and the colors are opposite in my head). I then hang the papers on my bedroom wall. I am halfway through the semester and have about 30 papers so far. I know that sounds crazy, but it has really worked for me.

1 Votes

Hey I was wondering how did you do on your Pharm ATI.

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Thanks so much for all of the input and your hard work. It inspires me to do well also. Best of luck to all.

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I didn't ask the question, but I will definitely use the information! Thanks bunches!

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