Starting Nursing School

Honestly, that probably wouldn't be very productive, I've seen every NS's "drug card" be different than the rest, and you'd probably end up re-doing them. For instance, my school wants Broad classification, specific classification, generic name, brand names, indication, common side effects, and assessment (or teaching), other posters will give something else I'm sure.

And another thing, how would you know where to begin? Theres 1000's of drugs, and our school asked for about 10 at a time, but we have no idea which 10 until the assignment is posted. You'd be better off studying out of Saunders comprehensive NCLEX book, that would have helped me a great deal before school, to get familair with the way test were going to be structured, or purchase "pharmacology made easy" and just get a feel for drug classifications.

imdur (isosorbide)

classification:

therapeutic; antianginals

pharmacologic; nitrates

indications: treatment of anginal attacks, prophylactic management of angina, treatment of heart failure

contradindications: hypersensitivity, severe anemia, concurrent use of sildenafil

adverse reactions:

cns; dizziness, headache

cv; hypotension, tachycardia

gi; nausea and vomitting

nursing implications:

~assess location, duration, intensity and precipitating factors of anginal pain

~monitor blood pressure and pulse routinely during period of dosage adjustment

i hope this helps. there is alot more information in drug guides than what i have posted and each category noted also has much more. i usually pick what i put on my cards based on what i think i will forget or what seems so basic, that if it weren't on there then my instructors would question me.

Honestly, that probably wouldn't be very productive, I've seen every NS's "drug card" be different than the rest, and you'd probably end up re-doing them. For instance, my school wants Broad classification, specific classification, generic name, brand names, indication, common side effects, and assessment (or teaching), other posters will give something else I'm sure.

I disagree, even though you may have to redo certain drug cards trying to begin to learn drugs and information about them will undoubtedly serve you in your studies. Nurses shouldn't simply study to pass their tests, but to be able to make decisions with sound judgement in their practice. Getting to know your drugs early is a good thing not counterproductive.

I think one of the best ways to prepare for nursing school is to have fun, relax, enjoy your family and friends as much as possible before starting. It will be a long time before you will be able to "have a real life" again. I just graduated this spring and it is a marathon getting through school. First month is the hardest I thought, getting used to it all, but the last thing you want is to be all burned out before you start. IMO anyway. Maybe if you have to read your pathopharm book a bit...read the parts about half life, therapeutic range, antagonists, agonists, the beginning stuff so you know how drugs work in the body. That will give you a leg up.

When I had to have drug cards at the beginning of nursing school, I bought a pack of cards called MediQuik (published by Lippincott and endorsed by the NSNA.) I don't know if your school would allow them, but mine did. Rather than copy a limited amount of information down, I would bring the cards I needed to clinical and just study them well ahead of time. In my last two semesters, I actually got a PDA and had Davis' Drug Guide on it so I didn't need the cards anymore. But they were super helpful- I gave them to a friend and she loved them too.

I have actually heard that there are schools now requiring their students to get a PDA with the davis drug guide on it. I love the idea, I actually bought a PDA for in my practice with the intention of installing Davis. Good call.

Also learn med math now if you are not so strong on it because most schools expect you to pass the med math test with between a 90%-100%.

I agree with studying dosage calculations. I start nursing school in august and just took the class in the spring. I already forgot most of it. "Use it or lose it" defientely applies to me. So I will be going over my dosage calc workbook in the next few weeks. I also thought about making drug cards - but If I didn't need them immediately again - I would probably forget the info. Good luck in nursing school.:nuke:

i agree that making drug cards ahead of time is counterproductive since there are so many drugs & each school requires different things. in my program, we just had to make drug cards for the drugs we were giving the next day in clinicals.

I have actually heard that there are schools now requiring their students to get a PDA with the davis drug guide on it. I love the idea, I actually bought a PDA for in my practice with the intention of installing Davis. Good call.

I think that's great that schools are requiring them. I was the only one in my class that had one and some of my clinical instructors would come find me on the floor if they had a question that could be looked up. I highly recommend it. I have the Nursing Central bundle which included Davis' Drug, a Taber's Cyclopedic, Diseases and Disorders, and Labs...very handy for school and I still use it today. I have found that I use it less in the ER than I did in med-surg clinicals because I have less time to look things up. I use Davis' Drug Guide the most of all the programs, it's a must. You can actually download a trial to see if you like it.