Classification
the best way to review this drug information is to learn drug classifications — drugs in the same class often have the same ending (This is not a rule though and not always the case), as well as, similar actions and side effects.
Learning medications one by one is a next to impossible task to accomplish. Trying to remember each one’s action, indication, assessments, dose, onset, maximum dose, side effects, adverse effects and nursing implications (amongst other things) can send a student down the path of despair and make you want to just give up.
Not only is it hard to look at medications this way, it also makes is very hard to connect the dots between the indications, actions, assessments and side effects; or the how and why!
Having your med cards is helpful, but, in order to better understand a medication, you need to be able to connect those dots based on the class of medication. Your med cards should simply by used once you have figured out the logic behind what the medication does in your body.
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/105983169/Drug-Nomenclature-Suffixes-and-Prefixes
the best way to review this drug information is to learn drug classifications — drugs in the same class often have the same ending (This is not a rule though and not always the case), as well as, similar actions and side effects.
Learning medications one by one is a next to impossible task to accomplish. Trying to remember each one’s action, indication, assessments, dose, onset, maximum dose, side effects, adverse effects and nursing implications (amongst other things) can send a student down the path of despair and make you want to just give up.
Not only is it hard to look at medications this way, it also makes is very hard to connect the dots between the indications, actions, assessments and side effects; or the how and why!
Having your med cards is helpful, but, in order to better understand a medication, you need to be able to connect those dots based on the class of medication. Your med cards should simply by used once you have figured out the logic behind what the medication does in your body.
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/105983169/Drug-Nomenclature-Suffixes-and-Prefixes
For example, a cardiac glycoside such as digoxin Slows heart rate down. Pumps more blood with each beat.*From that, it is easy to understand why it is necessary to check the pulse! And that bradycardia is one of the main side effects. (Kee & al., 2012, p.621)
A beta blocker such as metropolol “Decrease the effect of the sympathetic nervous system by blocking the action of epinephrine and norepinephrine (Kee et al. 2012, p. 626).*Mimicking the parasympathetic system, which, amongs other things, lowers BP, HR, force of contractions (Beta 1), Constrict bronchioles (beta 2) (Kee et al. 2012, p. 626).
A calcium channel blocker such as norvasc Block calcium from entering cells of the heart, decreasing the workload of the heart, and demand for oxygen. Calcium activates contractions of the heart.*From this sentence, you can deduce that it could be used for arrhythmias, hypertension, and that it is crucial to keep a close eye on BP and Pulse. (Kee & al., 2012, p.628)
Nitrates such as nitrosat Dilate veins = decrease preload and afterload = decrease demand on the heart. (Kee & al., 2012, p.626)*Easy to deduce that it is important to monitor the blood pressure because hypotension can happen when a drug dilates veins(Kee & al., 2012, p.626)
An ace inhibitor such as captopril Dilate arteries & veins by blocking conversion to angiotensin II (angi II creates vasoconstriction) (Deglin & al., 2011, p.176)*Therefor, it treats hypertension and decreases the demand on the heart
* Think of what should be monitored here?
A beta blocker such as metropolol “Decrease the effect of the sympathetic nervous system by blocking the action of epinephrine and norepinephrine (Kee et al. 2012, p. 626).*Mimicking the parasympathetic system, which, amongs other things, lowers BP, HR, force of contractions (Beta 1), Constrict bronchioles (beta 2) (Kee et al. 2012, p. 626).
A calcium channel blocker such as norvasc Block calcium from entering cells of the heart, decreasing the workload of the heart, and demand for oxygen. Calcium activates contractions of the heart.*From this sentence, you can deduce that it could be used for arrhythmias, hypertension, and that it is crucial to keep a close eye on BP and Pulse. (Kee & al., 2012, p.628)
Nitrates such as nitrosat Dilate veins = decrease preload and afterload = decrease demand on the heart. (Kee & al., 2012, p.626)*Easy to deduce that it is important to monitor the blood pressure because hypotension can happen when a drug dilates veins(Kee & al., 2012, p.626)
An ace inhibitor such as captopril Dilate arteries & veins by blocking conversion to angiotensin II (angi II creates vasoconstriction) (Deglin & al., 2011, p.176)*Therefor, it treats hypertension and decreases the demand on the heart
* Think of what should be monitored here?