Nursing Pharmacology

Jean O'Neil

These boxed review cards begin with tips for mastering the study of nursing pharmacology. Next, the cards follow physiological systems, such as autonomic nervous system, or human function to be treated, such as sleep, or pain and inflammation. Some groupings are miscellaneous, such as drugs to treat cancer, infection, and dermatology. Each functional grouping begins with fast facts including drugs common to the group and cautions in using them, followed by specifics about categories of drugs, not specific drugs. Finally, each grouping ends with multiple choice questions, answers, and rationales. The aim is to help learners become more efficient and proficient in mastering nursing pharmacology. The authors address students of nursing pharmacology. The study techniques are good in relation to scheduling study. The idea of formulating a question following study of a drug category is excellent but suggests adding an example. Content focusing on drug categories instead of specific drugs is unique. However, directions would help the user benefit from this approach. Expecting the test items to be at the end of each section would help the learner who could use them as a pretest before approaching the section. This is a unique and potentially helpful set of review cards for a beginning student of pharmacology or a person seeking information on a particular grouping of drugs. A more detailed table of contents and directions about how to follow the format of the cards would be helpful. The authors give excellent study techniques but might improve these with examples of questions a learner might raise. Inclusion of references would be beneficial to help the learner follow the authors'directions to seek further information in a text.

From The Critics

Reviewer: Jean O'Neil, EdD, RN, C (Boston College School of Nursing)
Description: These boxed review cards begin with tips for mastering the study of nursing pharmacology. Next, the cards follow physiological systems, such as autonomic nervous system, or human function to be treated, such as sleep, or pain and inflammation. Some groupings are miscellaneous, such as drugs to treat cancer, infection, and dermatology. Each functional grouping begins with fast facts including drugs common to the group and cautions in using them, followed by specifics about categories of drugs, not specific drugs. Finally, each grouping ends with multiple choice questions, answers, and rationales.
Purpose: The aim is to help learners become more efficient and proficient in mastering nursing pharmacology.
Audience: The authors address students of nursing pharmacology.
Features: The study techniques are good in relation to scheduling study. The idea of formulating a question following study of a drug category is excellent but suggests adding an example. Content focusing on drug categories instead of specific drugs is unique. However, directions would help the user benefit from this approach. Expecting the test items to be at the end of each section would help the learner who could use them as a pretest before approaching the section.
Assessment: This is a unique and potentially helpful set of review cards for a beginning student of pharmacology or a person seeking information on a particular grouping of drugs. A more detailed table of contents and directions about how to follow the format of the cards would be helpful. The authors give excellent study techniques but might improve these with examples of questions a learner might raise. Inclusion of references would be beneficial to help the learner follow the authors' directions to seek further information in a text.

3 Stars from Doody