General Information

Tips to answering test questions:

•Focus on the subject of the question and note whether the question is asking about the intended effect, side effect, or adverse effect.

•It is nearly impossible to learn everything about every individual medication. Learn medications by their classifications because of the similarities that exist among medications in a given classification

•Learn medications belonging to a particular classification by remembering commonalities in their names

•Learn to recognize the side effects commonly associated with each class of medications and then relate the appropriate nursing interventions to each side effect

•Look at the medication name and use medical terminology to help determine the medication's action

Things to remember:

•Assess the client for allergies and hypersensitivity to the prescribed medication.

•Assess the client for existing medical disorders that contraindicate the administration of a prescribed medication.

•The older client and the neonate and infant are at greater risk for medication toxicity than are the adult client.

•Nursing interventions always include checking the client's vital signs, monitoring significant laboratory results, watching for side and adverse effects of the medication, and client education.

•The client should avoid taking over-the-counter medications or any other medications (e.g., herbal preparations) unless they are approved for use by the health care provider.

•The client should follow up with the health care provider as prescribed.

•Most of the time on NCLEX what the medication is for is somewhere in the stem

•Antibiotics

•Teach to COMPLETE them, even if they are feeling better

•Monitor for ototoxicity, tinnitus, vertigo, and nausea

•Vasodilators (Verapramil, Nitro)

•Pt c/o headache

•Several meds are used for several different things. EX: betablockers

•ALL MEDS ON THE EXAM WILL ONLY BE WRITTEN WITH THE GENERIC NAME – SAME AS NCLEX