Pharmacology for Nursing Care » (7th Edition)

Formerly Lecturer, University of Arizona College of Nursing, Lecturer, University of Virginia School of Nursing, Research Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia School of Medicine

Always a student favorite, Pharmacology for Nursing Care offers a clear approach explaining drug prototypes and how they work. It provides the background needed to understand related drugs currently on the market, as well as drugs yet to be released. In simplifying a complex subject, this text focuses on the essentials of pharmacology. Large print is used to show "need-to-know" information, and small print is used for "nice to know" material. At the end of each chapter, a summary of major nursing implications helps in applying the material to real-world situations. This edition includes a new companion CD-ROM featuring NCLEX(r) examination-style review questions, a variety of electronic calculators, and animations depicting drug mechanisms and effects.

• Uses a prototype drug approach that places a strong emphasis on understanding over memorization - equipping students with the knowledge to learn not only about related drugs currently on the market, but also about those drugs that will be released once the student begins practice.
• Summaries of Major Nursing Implications at the end of each chapter provide an in-depth look at assessment, implementation, and ongoing evaluations.
• Utilizes large print for essential information and small print for "nice-to-know" information to help both faculty and students focus their limited classroom and study time on understanding the essentials.
• Concise drug summary tables present detailed information on individual drugs, including class, generic and trade names, dosages, routes, and indications.
• Key Points at the end of each chapter summarize content in a bulleted format to help students reviewimportant concepts.
• Prototype drug discussions employ a clear and consistent format with separate headings for Mechanism of Action; Pharmacologic Effects; Pharmacokinetics; Therapeutic Uses; Adverse Effects; Drug Interactions; and Preparations, Dosage, and Administration.
• An attractive full-color design adds visual interest, highlights key information, and facilitates student learning.

• Drugs for Multiple Sclerosis and Drugs for Hemophilia chapters.
  
• Drugs for Erectile Dysfunction and Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia chapter covers newsworthy drugs such as Viagra and Levitra.
  
• Special Interest Topics boxes on current issues in pharmacology, such as Medication-Overuse Headache: Too Much of a Good Thing and Face Time with Botox.
  
• Adult Immunization appendix summarizes the latest information on immunizations.
  
• Numerous new illustrations show drug mechanisms and effects, and depict topics such as histologic changes in Alzheimer's disease and the movement of drugs following GI absorption.

Barbara Van de Castle

This is a very detailed pharmacology textbook. It covers many areas in great detail with appropriately applied physiology. The nursing components are integrated throughout the text as well as summarized into nursing implications at the end of most chapters. Each chapter has a list of key points for review. The purpose is to establish a knowledge base in the basic science of drugs and to demonstrate application in the clinical area. The purpose is met, but more case studies for easier clinical application could have been incorporated. This book also strives to focus on the essentials needed in nursing care and downplays secondary details by utilizing different sizes of print. This makes it easier to scan a page for important information. The target audience is nursing students in a pharmacology course. The level of physiology and detail may or may not be appropriate for integrated curricula. It is an excellent clinical review and resource for practitioners and educators. The references were few and located in the text instead of at the end of each chapter, which makes them difficult to locate. The content appears complete; new sections include Pediatric Immunization, Drug Therapy Across the Life Span, and an appendix for Drug-Related Information on the Internet. This list of Internet sites is appropriate and a great resource for the learner. The disk provided has a drug database of 200 drugs and NCLEX review questions. The review is easy to use and provides feedback on correct and incorrect answers. The database is very small and requires the students to actually cut and paste a card together. This textbook is an excellent resource and is suitable for a pharmacologycourse.