Meds?!!

malenurse69, MSN, NP · Dec 17, 2014

I want to get a head start on studying

Word of the wise, don't. Enjoy your time off.

smf0903 · Dec 17, 2014

While I agree with malenurse69 about just enjoying your time off, I know there are people (I am guilty of such behavior!) who will study and want to get ahead during down time.

So, if you can't jut relax until classes start here's my 2 cents: Know your classes of meds versus individual meds. Make up a sheet or card for beta blockers, insulins, calcium channel blockers, nitrates, the various classes of diuretics, etc., etc., etc. Know what their main action is, what major side effects, what are things you have to watch for (like potassium levels for digoxin, PT/INR for Coumadin, stuff like that). I always wrote the specific names on the back of my cards, and any generic name stems on the front (-pril for ACE inhibitors, -sartan for ARBs, -poetin for erythropoietins, etc.).

The thing with med is, if you know HOW they work you can usually know what to look for, what you expect to happen, and what side effects are possible. That's why it's more important to learn classes of drugs and their actions versus memorizing individual meds. If you learn by writing, then write them out (I learn by writing so all of my meds cards are handwritten. Even if I type them out I don't remember nearly as much of the content as when I write them...so I write them!) Draw silly little pictures to help you correlate the content. Figure out what works for YOU :)

Good luck!! Enjoy your time off

x0xerika · Dec 17, 2014

As much as I would love to relax.. I can't lol. I'm a home-body so I never go out for extracurricular activities, which leaves me with a lot of down time. I also learn more when I'm not rushed, which is why I would like to start now. If I take my time and come up with ways that are effective for studying, then maybe I will do better in the classes. I do learn better by writing and re-writing. If I type it, I don't retain it as much either. I'm looking at the book now and the table of contents are in categories; allergy & asthma, analgesics, anticoagulants, etc.. but when I look in the book itself, it breaks the categories down more. When you say class of medication, do you mean the Antihistamines or Corticosteroids, etc., etc.?

smf0903 · Dec 17, 2014

Yes, the broken down categories. (I pulled out my nclex med review book to see what you meant LOL) "Allergy and Asthma meds" is too broad. In those categories you have antihistamines (which technically can be broken down further into H1 and H2 receptor antagonists...), mast cell stabilizers, etc. Asthma meds can be broken down into inhaled and oral corticosteroids, leukotriene modifiers, long-acting beta agonists, combo meds, etc. Each works differently. Antiarrhythmics is too broad...break it down into class I-sodium channel blockers, class II-beta blockers, etc. It seems a bit daunting at first, but this was how I did it. Maybe someone else has a better approach but this was how I wrote mine out.

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Dec 17, 2014

the problem with starting too soon is that your instructors may focus on classes of drugs or give tools to help you remember, and then you will have to unlearn what you have learned already. In class you will learn the application of these meds and that will help with memorization. Keep the book, but wait till you have your assignments. Later you will be better able to make the book a good resource. Right now it is just a bunch of words.

mrsboots87 · Dec 17, 2014

If you absolutely cannot just enjoy your last but of freedom and MUST study, try to at least get an outline from your instructors on what meds will be emphasized during your first course. If you're taking pharmacy as a class then basically everything. If pharm is being incorporated into you core course, then find out which meds are in first block.

Penelope_Pitstop, BSN, RN · Dec 17, 2014

Why don't you study anatomy instead? That's likely to be your first course unless you've already taken it. There is a lot of memorization to go along with it so I think the more time devoted to the study, the better.

DLS_PMHNP, MSN, RN, NP · Dec 17, 2014

I agree about learning anatomy. Start reviewing bones and muscles in the body and see if you can't memorize them before classes start.

Loo17 · Dec 17, 2014

I think if you want to study something maybe start ready chapters from a fundamentals of nursing textbook. I do not think your time would be well served studying medications.

x0xerika · Dec 17, 2014

I did keep my A&P book (I've already had A&P I and II), and I thought about reading through it, but I didn't know if nursing school focused on the physiology of the body.

brit.pz · Dec 17, 2014

I would definitely refocus on A&P instead of worrying about meds. I think worrying about medications this far in advance would be pointless because you don't know what medications your instructor will be focusing on and there are just so many different drugs to learn and know that I think you will be burnt out by the time Pharm comes around. Believe me you will learn so many drugs in Pharm and clinical (after writing out drug cards).

Nursing school most certainly focuses on the physiology of the body and it's something many of us struggled with remembering in my program. I think we would have had a much easier time if we had taken the time to refocus on the basics of A&P because there isn't much review in nursing school - they expect you to know and remember everything from your previous classes...which is why I'm taking my break to relearn the basics.

Good luck and enjoy your time off!! It won't be long until your nursing classes start!