🧠 Mastering NCLEX Pharmacology: Top Drugs You Must Know
Pharmacology is a high-yield topic on the NCLEX—and it’s one that makes many test-takers nervous. The good news? You don’t need to memorize every drug. Instead, focus on commonly tested medications, side effects, and nursing priorities.
Today, I’ll show you:
The top 10 drugs tested on the NCLEX
Visual mnemonics to help with retention
NCLEX-style sample questions
Tips on how to study meds smarter, not harder
🧾 Top 10 NCLEX Drugs You Must Know
| Drug Name | Class | Uses | Side Effects | Nursing Considerations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Digoxin | Cardiac glycoside | Heart failure, A. fib | GI upset, vision changes | Check apical pulse, monitor K⁺ |
| Furosemide | Loop diuretic | Edema, CHF | Electrolyte imbalances | Monitor BP |
| Warfarin | Anticoagulant | Prophylaxis | Bleeding | Check INR |
| Heparin | Anticoagulant | DVT, PE | Bleeding, HIT | Monitor aPTT |
| Insulin (Regular) | Antidiabetic | Diabetes (Type 1 & 2) | Hypoglycemia | Give before meals |
| Lisinopril | ACE Inhibitor | Hypertension, CHF | Cough, hyperkalemia | Monitor K⁺, renal function |
| Morphine | Opioid | Pain, MI | Tachycardia, sedation | Monitor RR, pain level |
| Phenytoin | Anticonvulsant | Seizures | Gingival hyperplasia | Monitor serum levels |
| Levothyroxine | Thyroid hormone | Hypothyroidism | Hyperthyroidism | Take in AM on empty stomach |
🧠 NCLEX Question Style: How They Test Pharmacology
You’ll be tested in various ways:
Side effect recognition: “Which finding requires intervention?”
Patient teaching: “Which statement by the client indicates understanding?”
Priority action: “The nurse should take which action first?”
Sample NCLEX Question:
A client on warfarin has an INR of 4.5. What’s the priority action?
✔️ Hold the dose and notify the provider.
🧬 Before You Go…
King of the Curve is the only NCLEX prep platform that combines:
Visual-based learning
Gamification with rewards
Multiplayer timed challenges
Daily QOTDs
And a highly adaptive pharmacology-focused Qbank
Trusted by over 100,000 users and growing every day.
🚀 Call to Action
✅ Take your free NCLEX Qbank trial → kingofthecurve.org/trial-sessions
✅ Grab free lifetime access to nursing study resources → kingofthecurve.org/free-lifetime
✅ Train your brain daily → kingofthecurve.org/qotd
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