Tips for Pharmacology

NurseGirl525, ASN, RN · Jan 6, 2015

I really like the website medline. There is a lot of info in there you can use. Also did your program at least give you a drug book to look them up? Mine did and there was a code in it I think for Lippencott's website. So if I am at home, I can just get on there and look up the drugs instead of using my book and it is much easier. I think you can group them and everything on the website. My program gives us tons of resources for us to use on our own time. It's kind of something you need to explore on your own. Go through your books and see what resources they have for you to use.

BlackBettyRN,OCN · Jan 6, 2015

My program is the same way. We don't have a Pharmacology class, but we have to take ATI tests. We have to score a Level 2 or 3 on the ATIs to stay in the program, including the ATI Pharmacology test.

What has helped me (both in taking nursing school exams and on the ATI Pharmacology exam), was the ATI comprehensive review book for the NCLEX-RN. You can buy it on Amazon for about $10. It has review material for Pharmacology, Med-Surg, Mental Health, OB, Peds, everything.

I like it because it is very condensed. In about 30-50 pages it covers all the drug classes, side effects, interactions, everything you need to know without being overwhelming (as I felt a lot of the pharmacology books were).

Mommy_RN1211 · Jan 6, 2015

We use the resource Lexicomp which is great for care plans. I struggle with remembering "memorizing" meds for the exams. I feel like in clinical the nurses will ask me "What is this med for" when giving them and I have no idea!! I can look it up and tell you which I feel is much safer than trying to remember.

Not sure if I am supposed to memorize meds by name or what.

SierraBravo · Jan 6, 2015

We use the resource Lexicomp which is great for care plans. I struggle with remembering "memorizing" meds for the exams. I feel like in clinical the nurses will ask me "What is this med for" when giving them and I have no idea!! I can look it up and tell you which I feel is much safer than trying to remember.
Not sure if I am supposed to memorize meds by name or what.

You have to find what works for you while in school, be it flash cards, rote memorization, etc... However, when you get out in the real world and you have anywhere from 3-6 patients, and maybe each of them has 15-20 meds each, you are not going to have time to sit and look up each one. My advice is to start memorizing them now, despite the fact that you're almost done with school, it will benefit you greatly in your practice. There is no shortcut to learning pharmacology. You just have to do it. Determine how you learn best and then apply that technique to your studying.

You can memorize meds by class, that would be easier than trying to learn them one by one.

TLizS · Jan 6, 2015

in my program we don't have a pharmacology class either....but they do require us to purchase the maxi-learn system

http://site.maxi-learn.org/About.html

I'm just starting sooo I can't really tell you how I like it but I believe there is a downloadable version of their drug cards that you can try out. I know people in the program who say this system has helped them with pharm.....The actual system you buy links all of your drugs together by class (where the downloadable version you will have to organize yourself) but the website there can give you more info

Natasha A., CNA, LVN · Jan 7, 2015

Hello, I will be starting nursing school (LVN) and preparing so I'm no expert on this topic (yet) but will follow this thread to learn :) I've been searching on the forum pharm tips and came across this helpful info below from someone who posted it:

"What I recommend is learning to truly understand the fight-flight & rest-digest responses (parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous system). Drugs typically mimic those responses, so remembering the responses in the nervous system often gives you quick clues.

For instance, you automatically know that cholinergics close your airways (also think: chol, close) by remembering the basic function of the parasympathetic nervous system. Parasympathic nervous system responses include, just to name a few: narrowing of the bronchioles, relaxed bladder, decreased heart rate and constricted pupil. As I said, KNOWING the parasympathetic/sympathetic nervous system front and back, up and down, side to side will lead you to understanding how a drug works.

And when you figure that out, start grouping drugs together. I caution you, however, NOT to fall into the trap of associating the ends of drug names with the classification (such as: drugs ending with 'lol' (like Atenolol) are a beta blocker). While learning the ending of a drug name IS an indicator of what that drug attempts to do, it will NOT, I repeat, NOT help you pass Pharmacology if that's ALL you focus on, as was the case with 16 students who (from what I recall) flunked that class from in my program. Learning the endings of the drugs is simply a tool that you add when you understand the fight-flight/rest-digest responses.

I hope that makes sense. Keep in mind this is how *I* learned and excelled in Pharmacology, but that doesn't mean you share my learning style. If you (or someone else) has an easier way, go for it! This is what worked for me. :-)"

MurseJJ · Jan 7, 2015

My school has a pharm class (took it last semester). I made flash cards (I think everyone did), and would go over them by class. For one exam, we'd have around 5-6 classes of meds to know, each class having around 10-20 meds. So, I'd make all the flash cards, and each day I'd do a different class. I'd go over them over and over and over and over. Repetition really is the key. Then after I did each class separately, I'd combine all the cards together and mix them up and go over them. I walked around with the cards everywhere i went, and instead of pulling out my phone to zone out on Facebook, I'd look at the cards (then Facebook ).

So yeah, constant repetition is very important. Studying by class is very important. Focusing on common endings such as -lol or -artan (again related to class) is very important. You could also try Googling medication mnemonics, that can be very helpful. For example, I would say "Luke likes to sing on a mountain" to remember that brand name Singulair is generic montelukast, and it's a leukotriene receptor antagonist. You could try coming up with your own weird things to help remember the names, it doesn't have to make sense to anyone else, it's just for you.

Hope that helps! I got an A- in my pharm course and that's what worked for me.

iamnotanurse · Jan 7, 2015

if you're going to remember something... the endings... and what will kill the patient.

Mommy_RN1211 · Jan 8, 2015

Thank you everyone! I can do flash cards I guess I just wondered whats important. Im gathering its the use and adverse effects. I will start working on that this semester!

Thank you. :)

Nienna Celebrindal · Jan 8, 2015

Really learn the classes of drugs and what the endings are. That is really useful. Then when you see a drug you don't know and it ends in pine for example you know the class and the things that are generally true about the drugs in it. It's not everything you need to know but it's a good place to start and then you aren't totally lost. It's especially helpful for the nclex. Overall be kind to yourself. Meds in general are job and unit specific. Once you get a job you will see and learn all the common meds on your unit.

abbieshere · Apr 11, 2016

I had no idea that there was an ATI comprehensive review book :) I have three more ATI exams to take (Med-Surg, Leadership, and the Comprehensive), and two final exams within the next three weeks. You may have just saved my academic life by mentioning it in this thread. I ordered the comprehensive NCLEX ATI today, hopefully it will cut down my ATI study time so that I can focus on my course exams. Thank you!!