Help for a Procrastinator

CHATSDALE · Dec 18, 2007

relate the drugs with the disorder you are treating

group meds into families

things will improve when you are actually giving meds because if you work on a specific type of floor [ie cardiac or labor/delivery etc you will be giving the same type of meds frequemtly

ebear, BSN, RN · Dec 18, 2007

Make yourself some 3 X 5 index cards to use as "flash cards". List the name, class of drug, usual dosage, common uses, side effects, etc.

kukukajoo, LPN · Dec 18, 2007

Then take them EVERYWHERE with you, even keping them on your bedside. I make 2 sets and keep one on my bdeside, one in purse. When I am somewhere I have a couple minutes, I can pull ones out of my purse and review. At nite, I will review just before I go to bed- gets me nice and sleepy!!

lil' girl, LPN · Dec 18, 2007

And get a friend to call them out to you and see if you can name them. I used to get my daughter to call mine out to me when I was in school. It really helps!

StrwbryblndRN · Dec 18, 2007

I also agree to relate the drug with the disorder. If it is all memorization some will slip through and be forgotten. Try and relate them to situations of when you use them.

I found that when I talked with people I knew and family about the meds they take it made it easier to remember because I could associate it with a person and their issue.

Another option is to associate the word sound with a song or something that you make up. Some things I associated the disease with the consonant and vowel. Such as if both had "ch" and "o" sound. Sounds silly but really helped for those hard to get meds.

One last option is to study them in different ways. Use index cards as stated previously. Then study through the internet. Write them down a couple of time. Say/sing them out loud to yourself or someone that may want to listen (like another student). Get creative. The idea is to get it in your head. Don't be afraid to be silly, makes it fun.

Good luck with it!

UM Review RN, ASN, RN · Dec 18, 2007

It helped me to remember by drug classes. I noticed that there were similarities in some of the names:

If it ends in -olol, it is usually a beta-blocker.

If it ends in -ace, it could be an ace inhibitor.

And so on.

treysdaddy08 · Dec 18, 2007

make classifications of cards...i.e. beta blockers and what unique to them. If you know that, and you know a drug is a beta blocker, then you know the generals of that drug.

BTW Angie O., ace inhibitors usually end in -pril (remember april=ace-pril)

UM Review RN, ASN, RN · Dec 18, 2007

make classifications of cards...i.e. beta blockers and what unique to them. If you know that, and you know a drug is a beta blocker, then you know the generals of that drug.
BTW Angie O., ace inhibitors usually end in -pril (remember april=ace-pril)

DuH! Sorry! You're right. Glad you caught that.

treysdaddy08 · Dec 18, 2007

Just happen to have it a few weeks ago in pharm class. We really had a fantastic pharm teacher, so it was easier to remember.

Care4life · Dec 18, 2007

thank you everyone for the helpful feedback!

it has been a frustrating road returning back to school. surprisingly, all the immediate response and support i've gotten from all of you has been a definite blessing.

god bless ya and have a merry christmas.

god's future rn to be~

care4life

The Hated Consultant · Dec 18, 2007

Group them into families or classes.

The flash card idea was a good one, too. If you have ePocrates on a PDA you can simply start with A.