Pharmacology Mastery Guide
Master Pharmacology for NCLEX Success
Pharmacology represents one of the most challenging yet crucial components of the NCLEX examination. Mastering medication knowledge, understanding drug interactions, and applying safety protocols are essential skills that extend far beyond exam success into professional nursing practice.
NCLEX Pharmacology Focus:
- • 12-18% of total exam questions
- • Drug classifications and actions
- • Adverse effects and interactions
- • Dosage calculations and safety
Clinical Application:
- • Patient assessment and monitoring
- • Safe medication administration
- • Patient education and compliance
- • Emergency protocols and responses
Essential Drug Classifications
❤️ Cardiovascular Medications
- • Lisinopril, enalapril, captopril
- • Monitor: Hyperkalemia, dry cough
- • Contraindications: Pregnancy, angioedema
- • Metoprolol, propranolol, atenolol
- • Monitor: HR <60, hypotension
- • Never stop abruptly - taper dose
🧠 Central Nervous System
- • Morphine, fentanyl, oxycodone
- • Monitor: Respiratory depression
- • Antidote: Naloxone (Narcan)
- • Lorazepam, diazepam, alprazolam
- • Monitor: Sedation, falls risk
- • Antidote: Flumazenil (Romazicon)
🦠 Antimicrobial Agents
- • Penicillin G, amoxicillin, ampicillin
- • Monitor: Allergic reactions
- • Take with food to reduce GI upset
- • Ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin
- • Monitor: Tendon rupture, photosensitivity
- • Avoid dairy, antacids, iron
🩸 Endocrine Medications
- • Rapid: Lispro (15 min onset)
- • Short: Regular (30 min onset)
- • Long: Glargine (1-2 hour onset)
- • Metformin (first-line for T2DM)
- • Monitor: Lactic acidosis, GI upset
- • Hold before contrast dye procedures
Medication Safety Protocols
High-Alert Medications
- • Heparin, warfarin
- • Monitor: PT/INR, aPTT
- • Bleeding precautions
- • Double-check calculations
- • Monitor blood glucose
- • Hypoglycemia awareness
- • Specialized training required
- • Personal protective equipment
- • Extravasation protocols
Drug Interaction Alerts
- • Aspirin: Increased bleeding risk
- • Vitamin K foods: Decreased effect
- • Antibiotics: Increased INR
- • Alcohol: Unpredictable effects
- • Tyramine-rich foods: Hypertensive crisis
- • SSRIs: Serotonin syndrome
- • Sympathomimetics: Severe hypertension
- • 2-week washout period required
NCLEX Pharmacology Success Strategies
Question Analysis Framework
Generic name, classification
Mechanism, therapeutic effect
Side effects, contraindications
Assessment, patient education
Memory Techniques for Drug Names
- • -pril = ACE inhibitors
- • -sartan = ARBs
- • -olol = Beta blockers
- • -dipine = Calcium channel blockers
- • -statin = HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors
- • SLUDGE (cholinergic effects)
- • MAD COW (digitalis toxicity)
- • RICE (anti-inflammatory treatment)
- • CREATE (insulin administration)
- • FAST (stroke assessment)
Master Pharmacology with NAI Excellence
Transform pharmacology from your biggest challenge into your greatest strength with NAI's comprehensive medication mastery program, featuring interactive drug databases, clinical simulations, and expert coaching.
Drug Database
Comprehensive medication library
Calculation Practice
Dosage and IV calculations
NCLEX Questions
Pharmacology-focused practice
Expert Coaching
Personalized learning paths
Help classmates master pharmacology by sharing these NCLEX-ready strategies.