Meds...Where to Start

Nurses LPN/LVN

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Hi All!

Just looking at this new Meds Guide I bought at Barnes and Steal-All-My-Money and, after leafing through it, thought to myself, "Oh-My-God, what have I gotten myself into?" :lol2:

Anyhoo, trying to get a jump on the fearsome Pharmacology class I know will be rearing its ugly head in the second semester, I was wondering, which medications would you recommend (as an LVN) that I should "Know By Heart" so-to-speak...

(There appears to be a trillion of them in this thing...:o)

Mike

What I suggest is that you purchase Delmar's Comprehensive Study Guide for NCLEX-PN. They have a wonderful chapter in pharmacology that breaks down the drugs by classifications as well as common suffixes, such as 'prils' are the ACE inhibitors, the 'olols' are beta-blockers, 'prazoles' are for ulcers and GERD, 'nafils' are for impotence (such as sildenafil-viagra). They will list the basic common side effects. Also, purchase 'Basic Pharmacology for Nurses' by Bruce Clayton...a wonderful textbook that breaks down the drugs in easy to read and understand format. Another one is (I think) "Introduction to CLinical Pharmacology" by Mary Edmunds...this one in particular is part of a series of books called the "LPN Threads". If you start early, before you start school, you will be at a major advantage. For the boards, you can also consider "Helen Feuer Nursing Review". Type the name in your browser and the web site should pop up. They sell CD lectures for RN, LPN and pharmacology...the stuff is nothing less than phenomenal!!! I had a poor instructor for pharmacology and nutrition, forcing me to attend a pharmacology lecture with these people. It was well worth it. The one for the drugs is about $80, I think. Good luck!

Thanks, Deva. I'll add those to my mounting collection! :lol2: I think I'm on Amazon.com's Christmas Card list already! Any day now they're going to bump me up to Fruit Baskets! :lol2:

Mike

Edit: Cant find "Delmar's Comprehensive Study Guide for NCLEX-PN" listed on Amazon. Do you mean "Delmar's NCLEX-PN Review (Delmar's Nclex-Pn Review) by Judith C. Miller"?

If not, do you have an ISBN for that book?

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Specializes in Knuckle Dragging Nurse aka MTA.

The drug names themself can tell you what classification they are. Drugs ending in -or are for cholesterol (crestor, lipitor). Drugs ending in -pril or -ol are blood pressure meds. (enlarapril, Toprol, etc)

Drugs ending in -zine are psych meds

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The drug names themself can tell you what classification they are. Drugs ending in -or are for cholesterol (crestor, lipitor). Drugs ending in -pril or -ol are blood pressure meds. (enlarapril, Toprol, etc)

Drugs ending in -zine are psych meds

Thanks B. Are those "firm" rules, or are there drugs that are exluded (like that new Viagra drug, mycoxaflopin)?

Mike

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:yeahthat: The 1st drug to *pop* in my head would be DIGOXIN- know when not to give, toxicity levels, "normal" dosage for adult & peds., side effects esp. halos and anorexia.

Another NCLEX favorite would be nitroglycerin, insulins(peak times). Just a start! It should "come together" for you once you study it in class and clinicals. We were lucky with awesome med/surg & pharm. instructors who would collaborate together! Hopefully yours will too, happy nursing school boot-camp to ya!:lol2: :smilecoffeecup:

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:yeahthat: The 1st drug to *pop* in my head would be DIGOXIN- know when not to give, toxicity levels, "normal" dosage for adult & peds., side effects esp. halos and anorexia.

Another NCLEX favorite would be nitroglycerin, insulins(peak times). Just a start! It should "come together" for you once you study it in class and clinicals. We were lucky with awesome med/surg & pharm. instructors who would collaborate together! Hopefully yours will too, happy nursing school boot-camp to ya!:lol2: :smilecoffeecup:

Thanks NC! One of my (reoccurring nightmares) is Pharmacology MATH. :uhoh21:

I've a degree in English. My math skills are weak; always have been.

I plan on sleeping with a calculator under my pillow! :lol2:

Mike

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Specializes in Knuckle Dragging Nurse aka MTA.
Thanks B. Are those "firm" rules, or are there drugs that are exluded (like that new Viagra drug, mycoxaflopin)?

Mike

The drugs that end with the above are pretty firm.. There are other types of drugs that end with all sorts of letters making it confusing as to what they do/ classification. Nothing your trusty drug book can't solve though.

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Specializes in Leadership, Psych, HomeCare, Amb. Care.

Like the others said,

stick to the major classes of meds.

There are thousands of new medicines released every year. You'll never learn them all. EVER.

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Specializes in PEDIATRICS.

I Know What You Are Going Through. I Bought A Small Spirl Notebook, I Don't Remeber The Exact Title, I Know It Had "pharmacology" On It . This Notebook Was So Cool, It Kinda Looks Like A Kid Book. It Has All These Funny Pics. About Drugs, It's Classifications And Side Effects. This Helped Me Alot. Oh, I Bought It @ Barnes & Noble. ;)

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Right. So I must be COMPLETELY missing something here. :uhoh3:

I Gooogled "main drug classifications" hoping to "get a list" of the main drug classifications...

TOTALLY came up short!

A little help? ;)

Mike

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
Thanks, Deva. I'll add those to my mounting collection! :lol2: I think I'm on Amazon.com's Christmas Card list already! Any day now they're going to bump me up to Fruit Baskets! :lol2:

Mike

Edit: Cant find "Delmar's Comprehensive Study Guide for NCLEX-PN" listed on Amazon. Do you mean "Delmar's NCLEX-PN Review (Delmar's Nclex-Pn Review) by Judith C. Miller"?

If not, do you have an ISBN for that book?

Yes, that is what I meant. Sorry I didn't type in the right title the first time.

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
Thanks NC! One of my (reoccurring nightmares) is Pharmacology MATH. :uhoh21:

I've a degree in English. My math skills are weak; always have been.

I plan on sleeping with a calculator under my pillow! :lol2:

Mike

I was totally weak in math, yet, got an A in Medical Dosages. They have several formulas to use...pick your favorite and never, ever deviate. I liked "Dimensional Analysis", myself. They have a ratio/proportion method as well. I used to take time to practice them at least three times a week. Now, I don't remember it like I used to, and because the medications usually come up pre-packaged, it is not really a big deal. We were allowed to use a calculator in class (thank goodness) and there is a calculator for the biggie; NCLEX-PN right on the screen.

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
Right. So I must be COMPLETELY missing something here. :uhoh3:

I Gooogled "main drug classifications" hoping to "get a list" of the main drug classifications...

TOTALLY came up short!

A little help? ;)

Mike

I don't know of any web sites per se that go into major drug classifications, but what I would consider doing if you don't purchase the book that I mentioned is to invest in a nursing drug book...they have so many...Davis Drug Guide, Saunders, Mosby's, etc. They also have pharmacology drug cards as well. But, for now, I would not overload myself with too many things because your school will have their own required books to purchase, and I have noticed different nuances in the different nursing drug books. By far, my personal favorite is Saunders.

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