Synopsis
This text presents a totally nursing-focused framework for teaching and learning nursing pharmacology, and "places the patient" at the center of all drug administration decisions and considerations. The book presents core drug knowledge using prototypes of different drug classes and emphasizes core patient variables that influence the patient's response to therapy.
This thoroughly updated Third Edition covers newly approved drugs, has separate chapters on drugs affecting fungal and viral infections, and includes more pathophysiology information. FDA Black Box warnings have been added to the discussion of each prototype when applicable, and safety alerts have been added to emphasize prevention of common medication errors.
A companion Website offers student and instructor ancillaries including NCLEX®-style questions, pathophysiology animations, medication administration videos, and dosage calculation quizzes.
Doody Review Services
Reviewer:Cynthia Ann Carbo, BSN, MS, MSN(Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing)
Description:This is the second edition of a well organized drug therapy book that starts with core concepts and progresses to various drug categories. The concept map is particularly useful to the visual learner. The previous edition was published four years ago, necessitating this update.
Purpose:The purpose is to teach drug therapy concepts as well as specific drugs. The student nurse needs to understand the disease process, drug action, and the possible hazards/considerations for each drug and drug class. The author's objectives have definitely been met.
Audience:The book is geared to student nurses, but it is an excellent reference for the practicing nurse.
Features:My initial impression of the book was that it was a bit disjointed because of the many sections in each chapter. However, I soon realized that the sections were more reader-friendly than straight narrative. The format is logical, beginning with foundational knowledge, progressing to drug knowledge, and then to patient variables before addressing actual drug classes. I especially liked the concept maps, prototypes, and memory chips--very helpful!
Assessment:This is an extremely useful and comprehensive book. It provides much more information than, for example, Saunders Nursing Drug Handbook 2005 (Elsevier, 2005). The second edition is needed because of the rapid changes in drug therapy, but it also includes more pathophysiology as well as additional websites.