Question about meds

[russianbear]

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.

[WIBound]

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.