Pharmacology is undoubtedly one of the most complex courses in the field of nursing. There are thousands of medications that all the students need to learn, along with their separate identification, doses, side effects, contradictions, and more—all of it combined makes things super tough.

But no worries! There are many ways that they can use to enhance their learning.

Want to know how?

Well, this is the question of almost every student “How To Study Properly For Pharmacology In School?” I can totally comprehend this. After all, being stuck to an endless complex list of medications, & their classification can be super hard.

Despite being complex, Pharmacology is a very necessary class. And this is why you always need a nice plan to tackle it and eventually pass it with good grades successfully.

If you also want to boost your grades in pharmacology, just keep reading to explore the top 3 Pharmacology Tips to help you pass the NCLEX;

Passing the NCLEX – 3 Fail-Proof Tips

1. Focus on Generic Name

Rather than trying to memorize all the drug names individually, concentrate on prefixes and suffixes & the generic name classification. Most drugs in a similar class have almost the same work and effects on the same part of the body. In general, the classes have almost similar prefixes and suffixes.

Plus, if you decide to remember the drugs this way instead of remembering their separate names, you’ll be able to study the material quite efficiently. Furthermore, it assists in preventing learning the drugs’ pharmacokinetic abilities and side effects separately.

2. Practice NCLEX-Type Questions

Throughout your pharmacology course, you will probably never come across very simple queries like “What is Metoprolol and its uses?” and will rarely find such simple and straight questions in your examination. To prepare better for the tests, simply practice test-taking strategies and critical thinking.

You can also practice particular NCLEX-type questions from different websites to eliminate the stress and anxiety of tests. This way, you can easily practice a lot to gain more wide knowledge to ace the nursing program in the most cost-effective way.

3. Take Shortcuts Whenever Possible

Many online test banks are fairly cheap and can help you in your studies really well. Also, the online learning websites list a pharmacology section separately with all the important drugs and their uses. For the difficulty level of pharmacology on NCLEX, maximum questions include the side effects of that particular drug to identify its own class.

For every class, make sure to keep a closed eye on which specific features and side effects set it apart. For instance, tetracycline, doxycycline & children. Note what drugs and foods it might interact with & cause a safety problem, for example, Lasix and digoxin, and why. In the end, it’s always about knowing the class first, and then you need to study by exception. This will keep you normal and sane.

OTHER FUNDAMENTAL TRICKS

Make Time to Study

Studying hard is a must in Pharmacology class. Studying in a group might be the best solution for you. Don’t wait till the last day before the exam to cram everything in a day. This is way too much information to acknowledge at once. Rather, start preparing for exams early. For example, if you know that the exams are just a week away, start creating the flashcards and go over the process now.

Plan a one-hour session for reading instantly by using some particular time to go through the action mechanism again. Now, take a little break in between & spend some time creating cards. When you’re free, go through some of these cards. This will be an additional benefit if they are on the phone. Therefore, you will not even need to carry them all the time everywhere. Creating everyday time a week before the test makes reading relevant material more manageable easily than studying it a day before.

Do Whatever Works Best For You

It is just you who exactly knows what actually works best for you & what does not. Pharmacology does not need to dread. Just organize yourself & study with great focus. Avoid any kind of distractions by simply putting your cell phone away, staying in a calm place, and closing apps. Start by giving it your whole attention for 30 minutes before taking a small break, and then repeat that for a few hours before taking a longer break.

Pay greater attention to the tools that help you succeed instead of asking for help from your teachers, friends, and even your parents every time. If you find that you learn best in a group setting or by asking questions of your instructor, for example, you should shift your attention away from studying alone.

Relate the Action of a Drug with Its Side Effects

It would be very difficult for a medical student to remember every probable adverse reaction to a medication. Therefore, it is important to underline the drug’s mechanism of action to facilitate your task. 

For instance, opioids as a whole disrupt normal CNS function. Almost every medication has side effects depending on the potency of the drug, the patient’s allergic responses, and the patient’s immunological response.

Create Fun and Silly Acronyms or Mnemonic

Creating silly acronyms or mnemonics is a fun way to remember drugs in nursing school. Talking about my experience, one mnemonic I even remember today is “Uncle Don has Alzheimer’s, and so he often takes DONeperzi.”

Simple and quick, right? However, if you are not very good at this, you can benefit from different free resources with amazing mnemonics for pharmacology out there. Google and Pinterest are the best possible places to start with.