Need help writing own review questions

[Bel-AirBritt]

I'm about to start my second semester of nursing school. I'll be taking Pharmacology 2, holistic health assessment, and Nursing concepts 2. My biggest worry is pharmacology. I spent nearly all my free time studying for my pharmacology tests last semester but I still struggled on half the tests. Reviewing the Nclex style questions at the end of the chapters and from the review book I bought didn't seem to help me much. I'm scared to death I won't make it because I'm having trouble grasping this new critical thinking focused testing method. Granted last semester was a two-month-long summer class and our teachers cancelled class for the last two weeks and two tests. Maybe this 4 month fall semester won't feel so overwhelming?

I'm thinking of trying to make my own review questions based on the reading information, but I don't really know how to construct the questions. Has anyone had success with this?

Also, I know people in my class that studied much less than I did but did much better on the tests. Is there a way to comprehend/memorize the information better with less time that I don't know about?

I read every chapter but no matter how much I studied I couldn't remember every single lab value (safe/dangerous potassium levels and sodium levels etc). Memorizing every single possible symptom/side effect for many possible conditions throughout the chapters was also very difficult for me. Our tests cherry picked one single symptom and asked about it. Does anyone know a more effective way of studying and preparing for this?

I know nursing school isn't really easy for anyone, but I don't want to spend another semester struggling that hard. I'm incredibly terrified that I won't make it this time or I'm just not as intelligent as my classmates. Any help or answers to any of my questions would really mean a lot.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

How can you pose a question if you really do not understand the content? I suggest you check with your textbook to see if there are chapter questions, make diagrams of drug classifications (anti-diabetic oral meds, calcium-channel blockers), or find another resource for questions. As for labs, when you are in clinicals be sure to use that time to compare lab results from one day to the next with the same patients. Ask the primary nurse what they are looking for and why. Then look up the lab test to learn how that value is related to "good" and "bad" results. This takes time but you can relate to it better when you know why a 2.8 potassium is dangerous. Good luck with your learning!

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

I suggest getting a pharmacology book that has NCLEX-style questions, as well as pharmacology flash cards like Pharm-Phlash from the Success series. The cards break down interactions, s/s, and nursing considerations on the cards; they are categorized by systems.

As far as lab values, those values take time; the more important issue is knowing what to do, how to assess and what to look for acutely is more important with the lab values; and diet choices.