Overview
Mosby's Critical Care Drug Reference is a critical care drug handbook that covers all of the drugs commonly administered in critical care settings, as well as those prescription, over-the-counter, and complementary and herbal preparations that have an impact on a patient's health while in the critical care setting. Its authoritative content has been carefully tailored to meet the needs of critical care providers.
• Up-to-date drug monographs focus on the drugs and the types of drug information that critical care providers need to know for day-to-day clinical practice.
• Organized into two parts: Part 1 covers selected drug classifications in quick-reference tables. Part 2 is an A-Z drug reference consisting of concise, critical care-focused drug monographs.
• Each drug monograph includes Critical Care Considerations that are clinically oriented and focused on the unique needs of critical care providers. Critical Care Considerations include coverage of administration and handling, precautions, monitoring, and serious reactions.
• Unique "Overdose/Toxicity" and "Antidote/Dialysis" sections provide essential content not found in any other critical care drug handbook.
• Includes clinically important over-the-counter and complementary/herbal agents that can have profound implications for patients in critical care settings.
• A 2-color design highlights key information for quick and easy access.
• Color thumb tabs facilitate quick information retrieval.
• Handy appendices cover quick-reference information that is vital in the critical care setting.
Synopsis
Mosby's Critical Care Drug Reference is a critical care drug handbook that covers all of the drugs commonly administered in critical care settings, as well as those prescription, over-the-counter, and complementary and herbal preparations that have an impact on a patient's health while in the critical care setting. Its authoritative content has been carefully tailored to meet the needs of critical care providers.
- Up-to-date drug monographs focus on the drugs and the types of drug information that critical care providers need to know for day-to-day clinical practice.
- Organized into two parts: Part 1 covers selected drug classifications in quick-reference tables. Part 2 is an A-Z drug reference consisting of concise, critical care-focused drug monographs.
- Each drug monograph includes Critical Care Considerations that are clinically oriented and focused on the unique needs of critical care providers. Critical Care Considerations include coverage of administration and handling, precautions, monitoring, and serious reactions.
- Unique "Overdose/Toxicity" and "Antidote/Dialysis" sections provide essential content not found in any other critical care drug handbook.
- Includes clinically important over-the-counter and complementary/herbal agents that can have profound implications for patients in critical care settings.
- A 2-color design highlights key information for quick and easy access.
- Color thumb tabs facilitate quick information retrieval.
- Handy appendices cover quick-reference information that is vital in the critical care setting.
Doody Review Services
Reviewer:Julie A. Stanik-Hutt, PhD, ACNP, CCNS(Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing)
Description:This new, compact, drug reference manual focuses specifically on medications frequently used in the management of critically ill individuals.
Purpose:The purpose is to provide easy access to comprehensive information about the specialized medications routinely used by critical care providers of all types. In general, the authors achieve their objective.
Audience:According to the authors, a critical care clinical nurse specialist and two clinical pharmacists, the book is intended for all critical care providers from staff nurses to physicians. While it serves this target audience as a quick reference, it would never be considered a comprehensive pharmacology text. Rather, it is what it is, a quick reference that provides specific information for application to clinical practice settings.
Features:The first section is the typical alphabetical directory of hundreds of medications. For each drug, readers will find concise, clinically useful information about the mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics, indications and dosing, contraindications, interactions, and all gradations of side effects (minor to serious to overdosage/toxicity). Dosing sections cover appropriate adjustments in patients with organ dysfunctions. The book also provides critical care considerations, which include helpful notes regarding administration, patient specific precautions, and effects of renal replacement therapy on the medication. Some important details are lacking, however; for example, the authors refer to a "7 step dosing algorithm" for dofetilide dosing, but do not provide one. The second section of the book is a compendium of drug class tables which include essential information about drug dosing and effects. Interestingly, there is no table for ACLS drugs or for vasopressors.
Assessment:At a typical cost of just less than $50, this is a user friendly, concise, yet fairly comprehensive handbook. It would be valuable as a quick reference in critical care clinical practice.
Editorials
From The Critics
Reviewer: Julie A. Stanik-Hutt, PhD, ACNP, CCNS(Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing)Description: This new, compact, drug reference manual focuses specifically on medications frequently used in the management of critically ill individuals.
Purpose: The purpose is to provide easy access to comprehensive information about the specialized medications routinely used by critical care providers of all types. In general, the authors achieve their objective.
Audience: "According to the authors, a critical care clinical nurse specialist and two clinical pharmacists, the book is intended for all critical care providers from staff nurses to physicians. While it serves this target audience as a quick reference, it would never be considered a comprehensive pharmacology text. Rather, it is what it is, a quick reference that provides specific information for application to clinical practice settings. "
Features: The first section is the typical alphabetical directory of hundreds of medications. For each drug, readers will find concise, clinically useful information about the mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics, indications and dosing, contraindications, interactions, and all gradations of side effects (minor to serious to overdosage/toxicity). Dosing sections cover appropriate adjustments in patients with organ dysfunctions. The book also provides critical care considerations, which include helpful notes regarding administration, patient specific precautions, and effects of renal replacement therapy on the medication. Some important details are lacking, however; for example, the authors refer to a "7 step dosing algorithm" for dofetilide dosing, but do not provide one. The second section of the book is a compendium of drug class tables which include essential information about drug dosing and effects. Interestingly, there is no table for ACLS drugs or for vasopressors.
Assessment: At a typical cost of just less than $50, this is a user friendly, concise, yet fairly comprehensive handbook. It would be valuable as a quick reference in critical care clinical practice.