cause theres so many, how many would you suggest? right now im studying the common ones for each symptom, like pain, heart failure (if thats even a symptom) but you get the idea

so how many common ones are there?

There is really no way for any one person to remember all the drugs out there.  But to me the ones I had to remember are the ones used for a code and the order you give them in.  Those are the ones you don't have time to look up.  And also insulins.  I remember several test questions about insulin like if they are long or short acting, cloudy or clear, that kind of stuff.  It'll come to you and before you know it you will know more about drugs and what they do and what they are for than you ever thought you would. 

thanks

theala says ...

charles101 says ...

so how many common ones are there?

Learn your categories:  beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, diuretics, cortocosteroids, etc.  Once you understand the categories, then you will know the fundamentals that apply to most if not all drugs in that category. 

Then you can learn the most common drugs in those categories:  example, Lasik for loop diueretics.

You will not learn it all in nursing school.  My drug book was my best friend the first 2 years I practiced.

perfect!   Learn the categories, think of the main diseases.......I know sounds crazy.   What I did to study for NCLEX years ago, I made notebooks up.  Thats way too unorganized actually.   When I was doing my ACLS about 4 yrs ago, I made flash cards.  If I write stuff down, I remember better.   Btw, I've had my ACLS for about 8 years and I still go through anxiety with it, the megacode on the test still makes me have to go to the bathroom like right then.  Ive worked on many codes at work, but when a real  code is going down, its easier and everything falls into place.  Im one of the people who have the famous illness   testidus.......actually I made that up just now.  Im fearful of tests.  I have to study everything many times.  The flash cards helped me.    Just do one card per group such as antiemetics, antidiabetic......stuff like that.  Or just ignore this post, lol.    When my flash cards get all dogeared, I make fresh ones.  Oh, and I highlight stuff too........helps.  

Yeah, the IV drug Bible...I think the authors are Gahart & Nazareno?  Should be close.  Couldn't live without that one.

The approach recommended by 'angienwgeorgia' is excellent.  You will note as you learn the drug categories that most of the generic names have the same suffix in a particular group.  Also, many drugs have dangerously similar names, even some generics have this problem.  Also, focus on the drugs commonly associated with whatever specialty area you are assigned to.  And make sure to check for serum blood levels if recommended as this will slip by the MDs very often.

With today's electronic MARs and duplication of drug routes, it is easy to accidentally overdose a patient when, for example: phenytoin (Dilantin) is ordered IV or PO and the times are different as generated on the MAR by the pharmacy such that the patient gets the drug BOTH ways.  This happened on a floor after a patient was transferred out of ICU and the patient reached a blood level of 45 (normal is: 0-20).  The fact that the drug still had orders for BOTH routes and had not been checked by a serum level in 2 weeks slipped by a neurosurgeon, neurologist, internist, pharmacy and all of the nurses on the floor.  The patient survived after a few seizures and cessation of the drug.

Also problematic is 2 drugs which do the same thing (antiseizure) and are similarly named generically such as phenytoin (Dilantin) and fosphenytoin (Cerebyx).  Always insist that the MD write the generic name in this case.  You probably noticed that Cerebyx is similar to Celebrex (a commonly used NSAID pain reliever).

Drugs and names change CONSTANTLY and one can never be too careful.  Use your pharmacists also for verification, especially where MDs have poor handwriting.