remembering meds? anyone?

Jo Dirt · Mar 31, 2006

I looked at all the meds and threw up my hands. All I can do now is pray.

EricJRN, MSN, RN · Mar 31, 2006

It can be so hard to distinguish between the many meds that could come up on the NCLEX. I think the best way is to learn some general principles that apply to each class of drugs. For example, you know that beta blockers generally ended in -lol and cause decrease in BP and heart rate. I wouldn't spend too much time splitting hairs between say metoprolol and propranolol, especially if you're coming down to the wire before test time.

AmyD_RN · Mar 31, 2006

It can be so hard to distinguish between the many meds that could come up on the NCLEX. I think the best way is to learn some general principles that apply to each class of drugs. For example, you know that beta blockers generally ended in -lol and cause decrease in BP and heart rate. I wouldn't spend too much time splitting hairs between say metoprolol and propranolol, especially if you're coming down to the wire before test time.

yeah do you know where I can get a list of classifications and what body or function goes with what word suffix???

rehab nurse · Mar 31, 2006

Eric is right. learn the general classes of meds first, and if you wanted you could make flash cards of med names in such class. keep them all separated with rubber bands. so one card with common adverse reactions, the rest of the cards with med names. that's what i did for my nclex pn and passed. i'm doing the same for the nclex rn. there are so many names to remember, it's impossible to know them all for the nclex, you know?

i have the benefit of knowing a lot of meds due to being a lpn for 10 years, but when i study saunders, there are so many that i don't know! i am amazed every year at how many new drugs they come out with, i still don't know all of them, and never will. you will learn what meds are used in your practice setting in no time!

2005grad · Mar 31, 2006

Thank God I didn't have not one MED on my NCLEX...Made up for with 6-10 select all that apply questions:angryfire

Faith

AmyD_RN · Mar 31, 2006

Thank God I didn't have not one MED on my NCLEX...Made up for with 6-10 select all that apply questions:angryfire
Faith

thought that there were so many percent of meds supposed to be on the test?????

EricJRN, MSN, RN · Mar 31, 2006

For the last couple of years at least, there is supposed to be a certain percentage of the NCLEX-RN (ranging between 13 and 19 percent) devoted to pharmacologic and parenteral therapies. The information can be found at www.ncsbn.org under the Candidate Bulletin.

bt92019 · Mar 31, 2006

HI Amy...

how are you? are you taking nclex in last wk of may or when are you taking? I read your note for med.qs in endo. system...wow...you finished chapters so fast.because..i think you're @ ch#51 last wk. my dear friend please let me know your trick too becasue i think i'm doing slowly ...& i need your suggestion. how many hours/day do you get chance to study? just curious...nothing else..so don't feel bad my friend!

regards;(by the way..my name is Amy too! :lol2: )

Geena, BSN, RN · Apr 1, 2006

Hi!

I did not learn meds by heart during my first read of Saunders. I would have never made it through the book. Some of the classics I know already - but many are new for me - especially HIV, ONCO and ENDO... my alltime favourites these days.... :eek: hmmmph.

When I am doing questions - and I encounter drugs - I take note, make a card with what it's for - side-effect and possible toxic effects. I go though my cards daily... quite a stack.

I agree it's quite hard; whether something on the side affects liver, bone marrow, kidneys, neuro or pulm...

I am trying to keep it as simple as possible.

Geena

2005grad · Apr 1, 2006

I do remember a dialysis questions but no med questions.

Faith

ArmyKitten · Apr 2, 2006

For meds, I bought a little pocket-sized notecard flipbook thing. I don't have it with me here so I can't tell you the name of it, sorry. It was about the same size as one of the pocket RN reference books. The flipbook had a card or 2 cards for each class of drugs, had the side effects, patient teaching, etc- all condensed down. It also included a cute little color hand drawn picture representing something about the med which made it easier to remember (I am a visual person).