the "herbs" on NCLEX?

atlanta · Jul 15, 2005

Thank you everybody... It :coollook:

prmenrs, RN · Jul 15, 2005

Fenugreek is an herb taken by breastfeeding mothers to help increase milk supply. It can aggravate asthma symptoms, decrease blood sugar in diabetics, and is related to peanuts, so moms w/an allergy to peanuts should not take it.

Probably won't be asked on NCLEX, but if you're planning to work in NICU, you will hear about it. A lot of times those moms have a problem w/milk supply as their babies are unable to suckle.

http://www.breastfeeding.com/all_about/all_about_fenugreek.html

suzanne4, RN · Jul 15, 2005

I was asked about echinachea. Specifically, how it might interefere with immunosuppressants....

It will actually interfere with some chemotherapy also.

Think back to what you learned in your pharmacology classes. For chemotherapy or immunosuppressants to work, they have to decrease the action of the white blood cells to allow the drugs to be able to enter the cells and be able to do their work. By taking echinachea, you are building up the white blood cells to help ward off infection, etc.; this in turn defeats the purpose of why you are giving chemotherapy.....for chemo and immunosuppressants, you want to decrease the action of the white blood cells.

This is why it is so important to have a good understanding of herbal medicines.

xokelly2 · Jul 15, 2005

It will actually interfere with some chemotherapy also.
Think back to what you learned in your pharmacology classes. For chemotherapy or immunosuppressants to work, they have to decrease the action of the white blood cells to allow the drugs to be able to enter the cells and be able to do their work. By taking echinachea, you are building up the white blood cells to help ward off infection, etc.; this in turn defeats the purpose of why you are giving chemotherapy.....for chemo and immunosuppressants, you want to decrease the action of the white blood cells.
This is why it is so important to have a good understanding of herbal medicines.

Excellent rationale Suzanne! You explanation helped my thought process and how I should review herbal meds.......Thanks

suzanne4, RN · Jul 15, 2005

Sorry that I can't draw my little picture here of the soldiers.......... :)

RainDreamer, BSN, RN · Jul 17, 2005

I had a great pharm instructor and she went into herbs really well. I didn't even review herbs when preparing for the NCLEX because I felt like what I learned in pharm would be enough, and I was right. If you know the basics about them, then I'm sure you'll be fine. I only had a couple questions regarding herbs and they were really basic.

Good luck, atlanta!!

Sapphy, BSN, RN · Jul 19, 2005

[GARLIC

Inhibits platelet aggregation

Reduction of cholesterol

Antifungal

Antibacterial and antiviral

Use:

Reduction of cholesterol

Treat hypertension

Reduce risk of stroke

Anticancer

Antispasmodic, expectorants

Caution:

Avoid ASA, Warfarin and other herbs affecting coagulation

May increase effect of diabetic drugs

May cause;

Vertigo, garlic breath, GI irritation, nausea and vomiting

Contraindicated in pregnancy and GI ulcers, bleeding disorders

OH THANK GOD..,.. I had a few herbal questions on my boards and one of them was which herbal would you question if a patient said he was taking it..... complete guess here.... one of the options was garlic with ASA.... I guessed that one and it looks like it was right.... 1 right 263 to go... OMG I am just sick to my stomach waiting here

Woman_in_love · Jul 19, 2005

[GARLIC
Inhibits platelet aggregation
Reduction of cholesterol
Antifungal
Antibacterial and antiviral
Use:
Reduction of cholesterol
Treat hypertension
Reduce risk of stroke
Anticancer
Antispasmodic, expectorants
Caution:
Avoid ASA, Warfarin and other herbs affecting coagulation
May increase effect of diabetic drugs
May cause;
Vertigo, garlic breath, GI irritation, nausea and vomiting
Contraindicated in pregnancy and GI ulcers, bleeding disorders
OH THANK GOD..,.. I had a few herbal questions on my boards and one of them was which herbal would you question if a patient said he was taking it..... complete guess here.... one of the options was garlic with ASA.... I guessed that one and it looks like it was right.... 1 right 263 to go... OMG I am just sick to my stomach waiting here

Sorry i cant remember what ASA is?

nurseshawna · Jul 19, 2005

ASA=aspirin

Woman_in_love · Jul 19, 2005

Right, thanks:)

Woman_in_love · Jul 19, 2005

Are those questions appear ALWAYS in NCLEX-RN? Is there anyone who never had them in the test at all?

thursdaygrl · Jul 19, 2005

Woman_in_love,

I took the test last Saturday (the 16th), had 75 questions (I nearly did a happy jig when the thing shut down), and found out I passed Monday morning. I did not have a single question on herbs. I had one med calc, SEVERAL meds questions, only a few priority, several isolation, 5 or 6 choose all that apply, and more obscure disease processes than I care to remember (things like Fifths disease). I had a LOT of diabetes insipidus questions, which lucky for me, I had studied. When I left the testing center, I was certain that I had failed--more because I had so few priority questions. I WANTED priority questions because they are easier for me. Those specific questions for obscure illnesses were tough.

If it helps any--I didn't complete one single study book of questions. I primarily used the NCLEX RN Made Incredibly Easy REVIEW, not the Q&A book. It helped me more than taking questions did. I would only get frustrated and worried with questions. I did pay for the learningext.com 3-week course, but it was very depressing. MedsPub was helpful, but I discovered a LOT of errors on their question bank (such as the answer was for a wrong statement by the patient but the question had been for a correct statement, etc.) Mosby CAT helped a lot in the last week before the test. I did study the day before the test as well.

Good luck on the test!