How hard does one need to study meds?

NurseMikey · Feb 22, 2006

Hey There!

Well, I had alot of meds on my NCLEX, more than I had hoped for. The one thing I noticed was the answer choices in regards to the med questions were surprising. Meaning, you probably aren't going to get a Coumadin question where the answer is "dont eat leafy green veggies." I got some very vague and obscure answer choices. Subtle adverse effects and contraindications. I dont want to scare you my dear, I just want to impress on you that I found the NCLEX to not be a test of trivia. You have to know more than a few things about each drug. Also, when you are stumped, try using the technique of eliminating the wrong choices. I had a med question where the answer was so basic that I almost laughed out loud. The other 3 choices were serious adverse effects, but they were just not associated with that med. TAKE YOUR TIME!

Nuieve · Feb 23, 2006

Well, that's it then.

*hangs self up*

EricJRN, MSN, RN · Feb 23, 2006

Hang in there! All hope is not lost!

If you look at the endings of many generic drugs, they are similar depending on which class the drug belongs to. For example, you know that if a drug name ends in -olol (metoprolol, atenolol, propranolol), it's going to be a beta blocker and you'll need to watch the pt for bradycardia and sexual side effects, and that you would question the order of such a drug for an asthmatic.

I would focus on the things that are common to each class of meds, rather than trying to beat into your head the minute differences between say, Tagamet and Zantac.

Good luck!

Erika831 · Feb 24, 2006

I just took the test today after studying for about 6 weeks. I practiced and practiced as many dosage calultions as I could find and guess what? I didn't get ONE SINGLE dosage calculation. And I only got about 10 med questions. Most of my questions were priority of patient assessments. I had a few OB and a few PEDS, but mostly med surg.

tcdtx · Feb 24, 2006

I'm using Saunders Comp. Rev. 3ed (new, color one). and God, these meds chapters are terrifying! I'm pretty good at general knowledge (diseases, treatments etc), but meds is actually what takes away all faint signs of hope of passing NCLEX from me.
I just can't remember them. Period. I can barely remember even the most popular names, and only those that have unique names. I can remember Kwell or Lithiim. But how do I keep all those generic chlorphenicols or ketoconazoles or tolnaftates with all their details (indications, contrindications, adverse effects etc) in my mind - I have no idea.
I can sit an hour trying to drum one stupid antibiotic into my head. And guess what? In an hour I won't even remember how to spell its name.
I just have no hope at all...

I agree with EricEnfermero: focus on the main classifications. There's no way to remember each individual drug. I used the Kaplan 2006 NCLEX-RN review book; it has a lot of strategies for answering questions when you don't know the answer. My instructor taught a lot from Saunders, so I used that too. I passed on my first try (in December), and I sure as heck don't know everything! :uhoh3: If I can do it, so can you..............don't sweat it!

Nuieve · Feb 24, 2006

That's the only way for me - to hope that I will do it only based on general knowledge of drug classes, few the most common names and general answering strategies. I don't have bad memory - I can easily remember a dozen of obscure lab values in one reading, but pharmacology is one thing that is totally incompatible with my mind! :crying2: