Essentials of pharmacology for nurses

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In the antidiabetic chapter only one brand of rapid insulin is shown which may be construed to endorse only one type of rapid insulin. That may be because it was the first one produced in the 1990s. This chapter needs much updating to include the new class of antibiabetic medications such as GLP1s and SGLT2s.

This is because of their prescribing rights, so they must know everything there is to know about prescribing lawfully and safety. As new medications are introduced regularly, continuing education is essential for nurse practitioners to keep abreast of the latest pharmacological trends. In conclusion pharmacology knowledge for the nurse and nurse practitioner is essential for the safe and effective care of patients. When drugs are involved it is important that they are used in the way which best benefits patients, so that they can achieve better health for themselves. The language and glossary helped the reader to have a clear understanding of the technical terminology in pharmacology. The table of content and organization of topics were clearly mapped out. The book was easy to read and understand specially for first year nursing students as well as advancing students in nursing. The endocrine chapter is terribly out of date , especially the antidiabetic section which does not include the newer insulins. It should at least include the newest drugs included as the first step according to the ADA guidelines. The sitagliptin picture is a Russian label. Only 1 DDP4 is mentioned but no GLP1 or SGLT2 classes which are so popular today. Osteoporosis drugs are also not up to date. Missing in the osteoporosis section are Risedronate (Actonel), Ibandronate (Boniva), aintravenous (IV) infusions Zoledronic acid (Reclast). Pharmacology is one of the most essential subjects in nursing school because nurses are the ones who dispense medicines to patients. Nurses are also the one who supervises how well the patient is tolerating certain medications. The book is designed so that each chapter has interactive excercises including quizzing, flashcards, and what I feel is most important, critical tining activities. The length of each chapter is digestable and keeps the readers interest interspersed with graphics and tables that summarize the medications presented in each chapter.

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This can also result in medication errors. The nurse’s understanding of pharmacology is important in her role of educating patients about their medications. The nurse must be able to answer any questions the patient may ask about their medications, such as why they are being taken, and consequences of not taking them. Knowledgeable nurse educators are able to make patients feel like experts with regards to their own medications. According to Barber and Robertson, “The nurse should be able to educate to the extent that they and the patient feel confident with their medication management”. Scottish Government Polypharmacy Model of Care Group (2018) Polypharmacy guidance, realistic prescribing (3rd ed.). Scottish Government. Scottish Government. Deslandes P, Young S and Pitcher B (2020) Rapid medicines management for healthcare professionals. Newark: Wiley.

After reading your lecture notes or your book for pharmacology, make outlines according to the topics covered by the teacher/professor during lectures or class discussions. These outlines will allow you to know what subtopics/chapters were discussed, including new terms and acronyms learned during the debate, which is vital for you to remember so that you don’t forget them when taking exams. Review Materials Before Taking the Test Barber, P. , & Robertson, D. (2009). Essentials of Pharmacology for Nurses. Berkshire, England: The McGraw-Hill Companies. Nursing school can be challenging, but most students enjoy going to classes and learning about topics related to nursing. However, pharmacology is very hard because there is much information about medications that need to be taught for nursing students to understand the whole picture of what they need to learn during their clinical.

Pharmacology is the study of how medicines work and how they affect our bodies.

The text is definitely designed for entry-level nursing students and covers fewer exemplars/drug classes than other texts I have utilized in pharmacology courses (missing immune modulators, contraceptives, chemotherapy agents, meds for OAB and BPH), but presents common drug classes in a concise and understandable way. The glossary and table of contents are excellent. It is better to research pharmacology after discussing things with your classmates or friends than to learn alone without knowing what you’re learning because you fear that you might get something wrong, leading to failing the course. You can find in-depth online tutorials on youtube about your subject. Nursing Students Should Not Give Up The text is internally consistent in terms of terminology and framework. The inclusion of the glossary is a great addition. The ease of use of the on-line book is wonderful. Reading level is appropriate for entry level knowledge into the pharmacology world. Learning activities embedded within the various chapters makes for clarity of understanding and also alternative ways of learning.

The availability of new medicines is often founded upon developments in the field of pharmacology following changes in our understanding of biochemical pathways.Content is unbiased and without obvious errors. Data appears accurrate with supporting evidence citations and references.

Jovanna Rios 11/25/13 Pharmacology is the study of the physical, biological and chemical actions of drugs (Bryant & Knights, 2011). In the practice of medicine, drugs are used to diagnose, treat or prevent disease so for the registered nurse in a clinical setting, the knowledge of pharmacology plays a huge importance in their role of medication administration. Pharmacology knowledge allows the nurse to carry out safe medication administration, monitor medication actions, educate patients, and act legally and ethically within the pharmacological parameters. Studying pharmacology is difficult for nursing students because they are afraid of getting things wrong. After all, it can reflect poorly on them even if they have the best intentions. However, being a bad student is never an option which makes studying pharmacology easier for everyone.

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Department of Health and University of Leeds (2016) Administration of medicines in care homes (with nursing) for older people by care assistants. Evidence-based guidance for care home providers. London: DH. In a clinical setting medication is normally dispensed using the generic name to avoid confusion, but because medications may come under a number of different names nurses must be able to identify the exact name and spelling so that the right medication is given. With every medication comes its dose range and form. With knowledge of pharmacology the nurse should know the correct dose, form (e. g. capsule, ointment, syrup) and frequency of a drug. This is vital for safe administration. The routes of drug administration fall into many major categories being oral, parenteral, inhalation and topical. Nursing Pharmacology is a well-organized text that flows well. There are ten chapters in the text and answers to the quiz questions in each chapter are found at the end of book. The tables, images, and figures are helpful and point out the key ideas. A glossary is found at the end of each chapter.