Question about meds

I'm a new grad RN who hopes to become an NP someday :) I'd like to work as a hospitalist. Anyhow, I'm curious, how do you learn about meds in the sense of which ones to prescribe for various conditions? I'm told there are pretty strict guidelines for hypertension, but what about antibiotics, or diabetic meds? I guess what I'm asking is how do you learn this one and not that one type stuff? I like to understand l that process better for my own edification and for when patients ask why they are not taking the same meds as someone else who has same problems.

Your first line says it all. You're a new grad with no experience. Be an RN for a while and you'll start to understand meds a little more. I would say you're a ways out from understanding the prescription side of things since you dont have any experience giving basic things. Give yourself some time as a nurse first and I think this question will answer itself in time.

If you want a leg up on everybody else youtube the pharmacology of the most common medicines. Just by putting effort forth you will outpace 99.999999999999999999999999999999999999999% of nurses because most don't put any effort into anything.

Study your butt off and work hard= success

There are few strict guidelines about anything. Regarding hypertension, you could view JNC-8. Read a lot. Have a look at algorithms. Much of what you'll do as a hospitalist is algorithmic. Here's the deal though, you'll end up prescribing whatever you want. Some meds are better for certain conditions in certain populations. You'll learn that, but instead of 14 different options you'll know from common experience perhaps three of those really, really well then you'll have an awareness of some on the other end of the spectrum. You'll look things up. All clinicians do. You're can't learn and retain all there is.

Regarding knowing meds, you can know them, but you don't really know them until you know the body. In my role, I find a lot of NPs know what meds tend to work for what conditions but can't say anything regarding any detailed, intricate knowledge. Likely, the best only have an intricate knowledge of the stuff they tend to use. Of all the psychotropic medications, I use about 40 of them and have pushed myself to learn the ins and outs of those. You'll do the same, but you'll need to know more about more meds. Don't be afraid to use meds. Just know why you're giving them and how to dose them.

Some really sound advice and cautions here for me to consider. I guess I figure one can never know too much and I've been curious how physicians choose which med to start someone on. I know with psych meds it's pretty much trial and error.

Yep, for psych meds, tailor the side effects. I wish I could take credit for that phrase.

Also, knowing about drug-drug interactions is helpful in reaching optimal effect.

I wondered that same thing before I started school and agree Guidelines and algorithms are a huge part of the learning process. I am still confused with some antibiotics - I learn one thing is school and in practice none of it seems to be followed which adds to the confusion. If could go back in time i would have learned the drugs by class.