Need help with Pharm Theory

[LPNdelgado]

Hey fellow nursing students! Congrats to all of you let me start by saying that much! I am in my first semester in LPN and struggling with Pharm. Theory. I have 8 medications that I need to know ALL about. Does anyone has any suggestions for how I can easily remember info about meds?

Here are the 8 meds i have, and maybe can someone give me som info about these meds such as Labs that are checked prior to giving these meds, most important side affects and patient teachings.

Aldomet

Digoxin

Warfarin

Hydrodiuril

Tagamet

Demerol

NPH - I know this one

Doxycycline

I am doing a med box on Thursday night. I have to explain the lab values to check before i administer these meds and all about them when she asks me. I HAVE TO PASS!!! You all know how important Pharm is!!! I got a 97% on my math but this is different lol... THANK YOU!!!! PLEASE HELP!

[Bobylon]

Do y'all not have a nurses drug reference (name escapes me,as it's in my car trunk, which is not home atm)? That's a required text for my school.....important for clinicals, very handy for pharmacology class (pharm.....exciting stuff :icon_roll ) I can't wait to get finished with Advanced Pharm.....but by then, we'll just about graduate...heh

[LPNdelgado]

i do have a drug book, however, it does not have everything i need to know in it. FOR EXAMPLE it says when giving DIgoxin there are no lab values which is WRONG!!!! you MUST check the Dig. level to make sure the patient is not in toxicity level. SO with that being said, i am asking others to see what they say about my 8 medications. It also doesnt tell you all of the increases and decreses of each med when on so many at the same time. Therefore, leaving me NO choice but to go outside.

Thanks again:uhoh3:

[obicurn]

The only thing we really HAVE to know in my Pharm class about Dig is to check the Apical HR. If it's less than 60, we hold the dose and notify the physician.

Warfarin....that is an anticoagulant, blood thinner, whatever you wanna call it. You don't want to take it in combination with other similar drugs, such as aspirin.

All of this info is very easy to find either in your nursing text or a drug book, google, etc. You won't learn it by having someone tell you the answers. Doing the legwork is what makes it stick in your mind. I say set aside a couple hours and just dig in. You'll thank yourself later.

[SouthernPeach3]

i do have a drug book, however, it does not have everything i need to know in it. for example it says when giving digoxin there are no lab values which is wrong!!!! you must check the dig. level to make sure the patient is not in toxicity level. so with that being said, i am asking others to see what they say about my 8 medications. it also doesnt tell you all of the increases and decreses of each med when on so many at the same time. therefore, leaving me no choice but to go outside.

well, may i first say that if that is truely what your drug book says then you have the wrong drug book, because the drug book along with the cards does say to monitor electrolytes (bmp) and dig level.

instead of using the online material for consumers try using actual certified nursing references.

good drug book is nusing 2008 drug handbook by lippincott.

you only get out of nursing school what you put into it. if you have to use several books then try that, because you will have a better handle on it if you put the work into it rather that having someone elso do it for you.

good luck to ya

[vsigns]

To learn all you need to know, use all of your resourses, write them down and memorize them. After a while it will seem like a piece of cake. You do get out what you put in. Use notes and keep them in your pocket. Study, Study, Study!