pharmacology

SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP · Apr 5, 2015

You learn to memorize drugs by class or mechanism of action. For example, the heart medications: there are the "prils" (e.g. lisinopril) the "sartans" (e.g. valsartan), the "lols" (e.g. metoprolol), etc. You'll learn what each group does: ACE Inhibitors, ARBs, Beta Blockers, etc. How do they act on the body? What kind of side effects do they cause? What do you need to know as a nurse prior to administration? What do you look for after administration?

The best way to get through pharm is to make yourself flash cards. You'll need the generic/trade name, mechanism of action, class, contraindications, side effects, routes of administration & nursing implications. If you look in the Student Nurse Assistance forum there are some great links to pharmacology flash cards. Definitely give them a try.

I don't know how your course will be structured, but ours was structured by system (cardiac, CNS, endocrine, GI, etc.) It all depends on how your instructor prefers to teach the medications. I would recommend that you have a solid understanding of physiology & microbiology before taking pharm. It makes understanding it much easier.

As you progress through nursing school, you'll come to recognize the most common medications and it won't seem so overwhelming. No one can be expected to memorize every single drug. But if you know how a particular class of medications works in the body, you're on your way.

Good luck :)

NurseGirl525, ASN, RN · Apr 5, 2015

We do it by system and classification. I learn the mechanism of action and adverse reactions. I also learn lab values to monitor. You will never learn every drug. Learn the classes and how they work.

rosy3 · Apr 5, 2015

thanks, all of u.

i learn them by mechanism of action. this is why i know their usage but it is hard to remember contraindications.