Memorizing Meds

[Little D]

i am a second semester student, and various concerned about learning the meds for my assigned patients. today was the second day of clinical and i just seem to freeze in fear when my instructor asks me to tell her about the meds. even though i research them beforehand, when it comes to recalling them on the fly, i get so nervous i will either say the wrong info because i'm confusing it with something else, or usually forget without some prompting. it's really embarressing and very frustrating. i'm in need of a boost of confidence, and any advice that can help combat this fear and easier ways to memorize meds.

:icon_roll thanks!

little d

[suzanne4, RN]

Do not focus on trying to memorize them, but to understand how they work, and then the information will stay with you.

It will make it much easier to understand why they are ordered for your patient in the first place, and then easier for you to explain to your instuctor.

Best of luck to you.

[seanpdent, ADN, BSN, MSN, APRN, NP]

i am a second semester student, and various concerned about learning the meds for my assigned patients. today was the second day of clinical and i just seem to freeze in fear when my instructor asks me to tell her about the meds. even though i research them beforehand, when it comes to recalling them on the fly, i get so nervous i will either say the wrong info because i'm confusing it with something else, or usually forget without some prompting. it's really embarressing and very frustrating. i'm in need of a boost of confidence, and any advice that can help combat this fear and easier ways to memorize meds.

:icon_roll thanks!

little d

i agree with suzanne, memorizing is futile!

start learning the classifications of meds, not the meds and the names of the meds themselves. you'll easily go crazy trying to rememeber all those meds.. for every patient you take care of.

instead group them together by classification. for instance learn the different cardiac/htn meds by ace inhibitors, beta blockers, calcium channel blockers. most cardiac meds that end in an -lol... are usually beta blockers. the list goes on.

also the more you see the meds..the more you give.. the more you'll remember.

best of luck.

:paw:

[future L&Dnurse]

I agree with trying to tie the med into the patient's pathophysiology (which we have to look up and I suggest looking up even if it's not required, you learn an awful lot). That helps me a lot. I am also not afraid to pull out my PDA (or drug book, whatever) if I don't know. My philosophy is "know, but verify" so I will double-check before I give the majority of meds anyway, and I'd rather be honest and say "I'm not sure but I'll look right now" than try to fumble my way through a not-quite-right answer.

I think it's harder as students, too, because we only see some of these meds once or twice so of COURSE we're not going to know every single thing about them. When you work on a floor it seems that there are some standard meds you see all the time, and you'll know those cold in no time at all. It's just harder when it's the first (and possibly only) time you see that med.