Important drugs to know for NCLEX?

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Specializes in PICU.

What are some of the important drugs one should know for NCLEX?

Thanks

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It's hard to say. I focused on studying classes of drugs, e.g., Beta blockers, aminoglycosides, tricyclic antidepressants, etc., and their side effects and contraindications. But even with that I didn't get any of the drugs I studied on my exam (which I took today) except for a particular antidepressant, and the exam question did not ask what I had studied!

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Specializes in ER.

Regarding drugs; Lippincott categorises them nicely and it is made really clear with expected outcomes, side-effects and specific nursing considerations / topic & related pharmacology. apart from drug r/v, I prefer Saunders.

But! One question; being a foreign educated nurse studying for NCLEX... I ran across this one: "SMZ-TMP".

Combination, but what????? Help!

Geena

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Specializes in CVICU.

First of all remember the major categories and their suffixes, such as -olol's are beta blockers (atenolol), and -ide's are diuretics (furosemide), -ine's are neuroleptics (thorazine), etc. VERY IMPORTANT, because you may get a drug you've never heard of it, but will be able to recognize it's category, and the most common side-effects. Once you've done that you should definitely know at the very least these, their side-effects, dangerous drug interactions, safe dosage ranges, etc. Digitalis, Lasix, Nitro, Clozaril, Lithium, Theophylline, Aspirin, Nardil (know all the MAOI's since there are only a couple), Cogentin, know never to mix a MAOI with an SSRI or other anti-depressants, Tylenol, Dilantin, Mag Sulfate, and the major cardiac drugs. I did a bunch of drugs in my tips over the past couple weeks, so look at those. Good luck.

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But! One question; being a foreign educated nurse studying for NCLEX... I ran across this one: "SMZ-TMP".

Combination, but what????? Help!

Geena

Bactrim:nurse:

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My NCLEX (75 questions) had NO pharmocology questions.

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But! One question; being a foreign educated nurse studying for NCLEX... I ran across this one: "SMZ-TMP".

Combination, but what????? Help!

Geena

It's Bactrim, also known as Septra.

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First of all remember the major categories and their suffixes, such as -olol's are beta blockers (atenolol), and -ide's are diuretics (furosemide), -ine's are neuroleptics (thorazine), etc. VERY IMPORTANT, because you may get a drug you've never heard of it, but will be able to recognize it's category, and the most common side-effects. Once you've done that you should definitely know at the very least these, their side-effects, dangerous drug interactions, safe dosage ranges, etc. Digitalis, Lasix, Nitro, Clozaril, Lithium, Theophylline, Aspirin, Nardil (know all the MAOI's since there are only a couple), Cogentin, know never to mix a MAOI with an SSRI or other anti-depressants, Tylenol, Dilantin, Mag Sulfate, and the major cardiac drugs. I did a bunch of drugs in my tips over the past couple weeks, so look at those. Good luck.

It is good to know those suffixes, etc., because the question won't necessarily point out the drug class for you.

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My NCLEX (75 questions) had NO pharmocology questions.

That's because they were ALL on mine! I took NCLEX today and it cut me off at 75! I had a good amount of priority questions, lots of drugs, lots of teaching, and some other completely off the wall random stuff!

Here were the drugs I had...gentamycin IV, protonix, fosamax, INH, and more that i cant remember! i'll add to the list if i remember!

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Specializes in ER.

Thank You!!!! SMZ-TPM

Septran tradename I recognise as cotrimoxazole -

Bactrim as trimethoprime/ sulpha.

All clear! Thank You!

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