STUDY
TIPS
for Nursing School Pharmacology
Trying to memorize every single drug is not a realistic way to study pharmacology. Instead, try these simple but effective learning techniques to master medications. YOU ARE JUST ABOUT TO LAUNCH into a new semester of nursing school, so let’s set you up for success! These tips will help you with time management, effective studying, and selfcare so that you can make the most of your nursing experience.
1. STUDY THE CLASS, NOT THE DRUG
2. ACTIVE LEARNING I swear by this type of learning style and information retention! Engage in active learning techniques, like summarizing information in your own words, teaching the material to a friend or family member, or participating in group discussions or study groups. Studies show that you are more likely to remember material if you repetitively say the material out loud. So, use these methods to reinforce your understanding of pharmacological concepts!
PHOT0 AND STUDY SHEETS COURTESY OF STEPHANEE BEGGS
Let’s be realistic; we are expected to be familiar with thousands of drugs. Learning by individual drugs will drive you out of nursing school. Instead, study by medication class. Learn how to recognize a drug by prefix or suffix to identify the medication class it belongs to. If you understand that class, you will know everything about every drug that falls within it.
BY STEPHANEE BEGGS, RN
3. PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE The best way to become confident in your knowledge is to practice NCLEX-style questions centered on pharmacology. Use context clues within the question to guide you on what drug is presented. Consider what you know about the drug
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ABOVE MULTI-TALENTED RN
Stephanee is a registered nurse, successful entrepreneur, and nursing instructor. Find her study materials at RNExplained on Etsy.
