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NURSE DOJO Cheat Sheet
Kata Series (Deep-Dive Courses)

Pharmacology Bootcamp: Rapid NCLEX Recall and Drill Mastery

Must-know rules
  1. Suffixes decode drug classes. -olol = beta-blocker, -pril = ACE inhibitor, -sartan = ARB, -statin = HMG-CoA, -prazole = PPI, -lam/-pam = benzo, -micin = aminoglycoside
  2. 25 drugs cover the majority of NCLEX pharmacology. For each: class, mechanism, what to monitor, when to hold, antidote. Master these before worrying about anything else.
  3. Antidotes are binary recall. Opioid → naloxone. Benzo → flumazenil. Heparin → protamine. Warfarin → vitamin K + FFP. Acetaminophen → NAC. Digoxin → Digibind.
  4. Critical interactions kill patients. NTG + PDE5 inhibitors. MAOIs + serotonergic drugs. Warfarin + NSAIDs. K⁺-sparing + ACE/ARBs + K⁺ supplements.
  5. Serotonin syndrome vs. NMS: SS = serotonin excess (SSRIs + tramadol/triptans/MAOIs) → myoclonus, hyperreflexia, rapid onset.
  6. Three dosage formulas solve everything: D/H × Q (basic dose), V × gtt factor ÷ time (drops/min), dose × weight (weight-based). Convert units first.
  7. Hold parameters: Beta-blockers: HR <60. Digoxin: HR <60 (apical × 1 min). ACE/ARBs: SBP <90 or K⁺ >5.0. Opioids: RR <12. Know these cold.
  8. Administration rules: IV K⁺ NEVER push. Phenytoin ONLY in NS, max 50 mg/min. Vancomycin over ≥60 min. Blood with NS only. Regular insulin = only insulin IV.

DRUG SUFFIX MASTERY: RAPID-FIRE IDENTIFICATION

SUFFIX SHORTCUT
When you see an unfamiliar drug on the NCLEX, look at the suffix FIRST. If the question asks about "carvedilol" and you've never heard of it
DOJO RULE
Learn by CLASS, not by individual drug. The NCLEX tests nursing implications, not pharmacology trivia. If you know one beta-blocker, you know them all.

THE 25 MUST-KNOW MEDICATIONS

DOJO RULE
For each of these 25 drugs, you should be able to answer 5 questions in under 10 seconds: (1) What class is it? (2) What does it do? (3) What do I monitor? (4) When do I hold it.

ANTIDOTES & EMERGENCY PHARMACOLOGY

EMERGENCY DRUGS: INSTANT RECALL
  • Epinephrine: Anaphylaxis (IM 0.3–0.5 mg), cardiac arrest (IV 1 mg q3–5 min)
  • Atropine: Symptomatic bradycardia (IV 0.5 mg q3–5 min, max 3 mg).
  • Amiodarone: Ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation (IV 300 mg bolus in cardiac arrest
  • Adenosine: SVT (supraventricular tachycardia).
  • D50 (50% dextrose): Severe hypoglycemia (BG <50 with altered LOC). IV push 25–50 mL.
  • Naloxone (Narcan): Opioid reversal. IV/IM/intranasal 0.4–2 mg. Onset 1–2 min IV.
DOJO RULE
Antidotes are binary: you either know them or you don't. There's no clinical reasoning that gets you from "heparin overdose" to "protamine sulfate": it's pure recall.

CRITICAL INTERACTIONS & SAFETY RULES

THE "NEVER COMBINE" LIST
  • NTG + PDE5 inhibitors (sildenafil, tadalafil): both vasodilate → fatal hypotension.
  • MAOIs + SSRIs/SNRIs/meperidine/tramadol/triptans: serotonin syndrome → hyperthermia, rigidity, myoclonus
  • MAOIs + tyramine-rich foods: wine, aged cheese, cured meats
  • Potassium-sparing diuretics + ACE inhibitors/ARBs + K⁺ supplements: triple hyperkalemia risk → fatal...
  • Aminoglycosides + loop diuretics: both are ototoxic → additive hearing loss risk.
  • Warfarin + NSAIDs/aspirin: ↑bleeding risk (NSAIDs inhibit platelet function + can cause GI erosion +...
DOJO RULE
The NCLEX doesn't test drug interactions as pharmacology trivia: it tests them as SAFETY questions. The question will be

DOSAGE CALCULATION DRILL

CALCULATION CONFIDENCE
The NCLEX provides an on-screen calculator. You don't need to do mental math. Set up the formula correctly, plug in the numbers, and use the calculator.
DOJO RULE
Dosage calculations are free points. Unlike clinical judgment questions where the "best" answer can be debatable, dosage calculations have ONE correct answer.
KATA COMPLETE
Pharmacology isn't memorization: it's pattern recognition. Suffixes reveal classes. Classes reveal mechanisms. Mechanisms reveal side effects.

Memory hooks

Antidote Pairs Opioid Naloxone · Benzo Flumazenil · Heparin Protamine · Warfarin Vitamin K (plus FFP · Acetaminophen Acetylcysteine · Digoxin Digoxin immune fab · Magnesium Calcium gluconate
Never Mix NTG + PDE5 Nitrates with sildenafil or · MAOI + serotonin MAOIs with SSRIs or · Warfarin + NSAID Bleeding · K-sparing + K Spironolactone plus potassium or
Suffix Drill -pam / -lam Benzodiazepine · -parin Anticoagulant · -mycin / -micin Often aminoglycosides (gentamicin · -tidine H2 blocker · -floxacin Fluoroquinolone · -azole Antifungal