Tips on how to survive Pharmacology

[ferrella]

I have always done pretty well in all of my other classes in the past, however Pharmacology is going to be the death of me this semester! Does anybody have any tips or good study habits that would be useful? I have tried making note cards, but it's so time consuming, which leaves less time for studying. Any other suggestions?

[nursephillyphil, BSN, RN]

1. Identify the medications, included in the classification and subclassification. This will be your key to identifying the purpose of the drug as well. SO group them into beta blockers, antihistamines, corticosteroids, glucocorticoids, antivirals, etc.

2. Identify the action or effect

3. identify the therapeutic use of the med.

4. based on the action of class/subclass identify the precautions or contraindications. remember if you want to know the overdose effect it's typically an overexageration of the intended effect. So opioid analgesics can end up causing resp depression if they are getting more than the therapeutic level.

5. Study the nursing considerations, should the med be taken with a meal? Celaphosporins are the ones that must be taken with food, others do not require an empty stomach, others do not allow you to take with milk or anything containing magnesium.

6. do not try to study everything for each med! Focus on the bigger/key things of each one, especially when it comes to side / adverse effects.

good luck!

oh and try to find an app for your phone that can help you study meds and do them when you have downtime.