medications used

[momandstudent]

Hi everyone. Hopefully everybody is enjoying the beginning of summer or at least wrapping up their classes. I have a couple questions. I will be starting Med-Surg I in the fall and I already know that we have to do drug cards for medications. I am wondering if there are any medications that I could type up over the summer just to get a jump start (I am also very bored with soooo much time on my hands now). I was just curious if anybody could tell me what medications are used frequently. Also, I do know that I need to review injections, med calculations and such-anything else? I appreciate all the help. Thank you for your time.

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

Honestly, I wouldn't bother. They'll have specific formats they'll want you to use.

[TakeTwoAspirin, MSN, RN, APRN]

OK, I would recommend resting up and enjoying the summer, but if you are absolutely determined to learn something, these are a few things that I wish I had been better prepared for in Med-Surg.

Things you might find useful to know off the top of your head (if you don't know already): Serum levels for:

Na

K

Cl

Co2

BUN

Creat

Glucose

Ca

Mg

P04

WBC

Hgb

HCT

Platelets

Know the normal ranges, and what causes them to increase and decrease.

Of course, know your ABGs too.

Rather than trying to learn a bunch of drugs or start drug cards, I would make sure I had a good solid general understanding of what each class of drugs do.

Also, you might want to brush up on terminology and abbreviations so that when you read the charts you will have some idea what is being said without having to look everything up.

Good luck!

[Annisme]

if you just have to have something to do over the summer...i would recommend becoming very familiar with:

insulins

antihypertensives

antibiotics

pain meds

these are the medications i see most used on the med/surg floor i work on. a great number of people are diabetic and have htn. they usually come to the hospital because they have some type of pain and antibiotics are common.

have fun and good luck in the fall. my first med/surg clinical let me know i was meant for nursing!

ann