need to know meds

Insulins: Regular, Gargline, 70/30 Regular, 70/30 long. Glyburide, Glucophage. Know duration and onset of action.

Antibiotics. Rocephin, Zithromax, Vancomycin, Gentamycin, Zosyn. Know which need blood tests to determine therapeutic effect.

Heart medications. Nitroglycerin, Digoxin, Amiodarone, Coreg. Know what Beta blockers, Alpha blockers, and Ace inhibitors do and be able to name a few. Know how nitrates work.

Anticoagulants. aspirin, Plavix, Coumadin. Look up the nursing assessments and interventions for these. memorize side effects.

Diuretics: Lasix, Hctz, and the other one -- can't recall, starts with an 'a' and you don't give it if the K+ is high --- someone will have to help, or you can look it up.

I hate giving a lot of meds too, but these meds are real life savers and as you begin to give them you will see how many lives have been improved with the use of the appropriate med for the appropriate condition.

Ancef, aldactone, Bumex, Narcan and other " "(name for meds that reverse effects), K, Mag, Na, Ca, thyroid meds (synthroid), kidney meds (cellcept, renagel, phosrenal, etc), liver meds, card meds, benadryl, tylenol, ASA, morphine, ativan, vicodin, percocet, toradol, dilaudid, demerol, phenergan, zofran, compazine...

I may still have a list of important meds that i looked up from school if you are interested, just PM...

We rotate through our clinicals so fast that we have to carry our med book with us. I had a patient recently who was on 52 daily medications. I think that trying to commit the top meds to memory is a waste of time....

The memory will come with experience. Use your time to study so you pass the exams.

I think the med is Aldosterone that Angie O'Plasty is referring to for the diuretics...excellent list.

jadu1106 :)

I agree with the ones mentioned above. I'd also add Pepcid - many patients in the hospital will be on it, for ulcer prophylaxis, memorize it right away to save yourself time.

The biggest ones for me in nursing school were Coumadin (the antidote is Vitamin K) and Heparin (the antidote is protamine sulfate). Memorize those, too, even if you don't memorize anything else. I guarantee you'll have at least one question on a test or in clinical on one of these.

I think the med is Aldosterone that Angie O'Plasty is referring to for the diuretics...excellent list.

jadu1106 :)

Yes, that's it!

Sorry about the major BF! :imbar

I think our "biggies" that Sterren mentioned were: digoxin, potassium, coumadin, heparin, dilantin, gentamycin and vanco. Then they'd throw in some pyridium just to throw us off because as you all know, pyridium changes the urine color to orange. Never mind that we hardly ever see it in the hospital.

And btw, we have a whole forum devoted to medications here. It might help you to browse these threads. I learned a lot there. https://allnurses.com/forums/f279/

Thank you for all of the fantastic replies. I feel like I have been given a memory jog just reading the replies and fully intend to thoroughly review all of the above!! :yeah:

The biggest ones for me in nursing school were Coumadin (the antidote is Vitamin K) and Heparin (the antidote is protamine sulfate). Memorize those, too, even if you don't memorize anything else. I guarantee you'll have at least one question on a test or in clinical on one of these.

Big ones for NCLEX, too

Oh yeah, don't forget to look up the strange properties of Mucomyst!!

That's always a favorite.

I think the med is Aldosterone that Angie O'Plasty is referring to for the diuretics...excellent list.

jadu1106 :)

Not to be a butt-hole, but Aldosterone is not it. Aldosterone is a hormone in the endocrine system, but ALDACTONE (or, spironolactone) is the diuretic you are looking for. It is potassium sparing and is used fairly frequently.

not to be a butt-hole, but aldosterone is not it. aldosterone is a hormone in the endocrine system, but aldactone (or, spironolactone) is the diuretic you are looking for. it is potassium sparing and is used fairly frequently.

mcknis:

you are absolutely right! it is aldactone! thank you for bringing this to my attention.

jadu1106

No Prob!