How do you memorize and understand medications?

sallyrnrrt, ADN, RN · Feb 28, 2016

Do not attemp memorizing, rather approach as learning, educating yourself

xmilkncookiesx, RN · Feb 28, 2016

Do not attemp memorizing, rather approach as learning, educating yourself

How, I was asking for advice basically

sallyrnrrt, ADN, RN · Feb 28, 2016

Ok "xyzacillin"

read about it, name chemical, brand and generic names

noting what classification the medication it is, Ie:2nd generation cephalosporin....dosages etc

side effects

modes of administration etc

write down, make note,.....the above in 2-3 sentences.....

then reflect back what do you know about "xyzacillin"

you have just taught yourself about. "Xyzacillin"

Karou · Feb 28, 2016

You memorize them with time and repetition. In practice, you do not have to memorize every medication. You have to know how to look it up before administering any unknown or unfamiliar med. There are many medications that I am not familiar with and have to look up, many many more that I've never even given.

Tenebrae, BSN, RN · Feb 28, 2016

The crux of it is, as a nurse its not about knowing your meds by heart but knowing where to look when you encounter a medication, or doseage that seems unclear to you.

for example, when I was district nursing I had a patient who was on 9-10mg warfarin daily which seemed like a hell of a big dose to me, I'd only ever encountered between 2-6mg previous. I checked my new ethicals (drug reference book GPs/doctors use) and found out that while it was a big dose it was still within safe ranges.

The crux of it is a safe nurse is never afraid to look stuff up if they are unsure.

As to surviving nursing school. I started a note book of all the drugs I encountered, trade name, generic name, family of drugs it belonged to, dose range, what it was for and common side effects and I added to it as time went by.

Best med calculation I found

What you want Amount in mls

---------------- X -------------------

What you have 1

Eg patient is charted 500mgs paracetamol. You have a liquid suspension of 250mg in 5 mls. How many mls does the patient get

500mg 5

-------- X -- = 10mls

250mg 1

While a calculation like this is fairly straight forward its always good to know how this calculation for more complex calculations. It also works with MGs as well

patient charted 1000mg of paracetamol, you have 250mg tablets on hand, how many tablets does the patient get

1000 1

------ X - =4 tablets

250mg 1

hope some of that ramble helps

Purple_roses · Feb 28, 2016

It helps to memorize classifications. Like I'm not going to make note cards for each and every antihistamine. Instead, I'll make one notecard for diphenhydramine, which is the prototype (the med that all the other meds in that classification were designed after). All of the meds in that classification will almost assuredly have the same side effects. Then you can just list the other meds you need to know on the card for that classification and assume they all work the same in general. If there are differences you need to know, write them in parenthesis. For instance, promethazine and diphenhydramine are both antihistamines and both work similarly, but promethazine is used specifically for nausea and can't be given SQ because of the high chance for tissue necrosis. Just make a small note in parenthesis instead of making a bunch of note cards, which are overwhelming.

Hope that helps. My pharm teacher told us to do this on the first day of class and it has helped a lot.

nutella, MSN, RN · Feb 28, 2016

Index cards ?

for each medication one that has the name, dose, and so on and forth.

You can quiz yourself or find a learning partner.

Yes, you need to memorize formulas so you can calculate.

Libby1987 · Feb 29, 2016

I had excellent rote memory for those kind of things and could excel in any test but until I had context I didn't truly understand them.

In addition to the above suggestions, do you have any relatives on multiple meds? If you could look at it from a perspective of understanding and preventing adverse effects, usual dosage and side effects that you would want to teach your loved one, it might help the info stick.

secondlifenurse, MSN, RN · Feb 29, 2016

Come up with a system that works for you. Many of us in my program used a chart-method, putting "like" drugs on one sheet (e.g., the anti-hypertensives). Drug name at the top of one of each of the columns. Indication, action, dosage/route, etc. along the left-hand column. Fill in the box with the info for each. Some of us typed out the info; some of us hand-wrote it. (Studies show writing it can actually help memorization.)

And then the key is rote memorization. Take those sheets with you everywhere. Each time you have a spare 10 minutes (or more), whip them out, and recite them in your head. Beyond the spare-time studying, devote 30-60 minutes per day reviewing and quizzing yourself. There really isn't a short cut for it. But studying and knowing them will pay off far beyond just the end-of-the-week test.

When you're in clinicals and you know these drugs and can explain to your patients why they're taking that particular medication (because they will ask if you're not already doing this), you will be glad you prepared yourself.

hstutz86 · Feb 29, 2016

if i were you , id prepare tables for each medication ... what med, what does it do? what's the main reason you would use that med.. side effects expected ones and the ones considered dangerous and why? don't forget to add a column focused on what meds out of your list that should not be taken together?

you have to break it down ... once you know this info , id imagine it would be easy to remember!

twozer0, NP · Feb 29, 2016

Like a previous poster had suggested, learn the classes of medications and the rest will follow. For example, learn all about beta lactamase inhibitors (penicillins, penems, cephalosporins, etc). If you know how those meds work, you'll slowly start to see all the meds in that type of class and just associate them with that class. You'll need to know specifically how the class works and that takes the most time but it makes knowing what you're giving that much easier. Diuretics, you'll know all of them and where they work if you learn the classes, loops, thiazides, k sparing. A good grip on physiology, chemistry, biology, and anatomy will help a lot as well. Hang in there and learn those classes! Also, once you become a nurse and you actually have to start giving these day in and day out you'll understand them a lot more.