Basic Pharmacology for Nurses. - book review

12th ed By Bruce D. Clayton, Yvonne N. Stock 2001, 640 pp $39.95 paperback

This basic text provides anything you want to know about pharmacology. The authors, professors in pharmacy practice and nursing, collaboratively provide detailed medication information and emphasize nursing aspects of patient care. This edition is revised and updated to include the most current information and documentation methods, such as new medications, herbal medications, and patient education and monitoring forms.

The book is comprehensive and allows easy access to desired information. The first part offers introductory information about medication nomenclature, legal requirements, principles of medication actions and interactions, the nursing process, and domains of learning (in reference to patient teaching). It also illustrates medication administration techniques and reviews arithmetic and mathematical formulas used in preparing accurate doses. One chapter describes the documentation process of medication administration and teaching.

The second part of the book contains the bulk of the text and is divided into units and chapters. Each chapter covers medications that affect or treat disorders of different body systems. They follow a consistent format, including content, objectives, and key words, and discuss anatomy, physiology, and medication therapy for that condition or body system. The steps of the nursing process are incorporated to highlight nursing responsibilities in preparing, administering, and monitoring medications in patient care. The authors integrate principles of patient teaching throughout the text, emphasizing the adaptations of the nursing process to the health teaching process.

Compared with other medication books, this book's incorporation of the nursing process greatly augments the material. It brings together the technical facts of medication actions and issues of patient compliance. Discussions about fostering health maintenance by addressing desired responses and anticipated side effects and offering concrete suggestions about how to alleviate side effects or when to notify the physician all contribute to minimize patient upset or anxiety and increase adherence to treatment.

The authors focus on patients' choices by discussing alternatives and personal values and beliefs, which all are part of culturally sensitive care. Moreover, they emphasize the importance of verifying comprehension and documenting nursing actions and teaching. The suggested attention to emotional (eg, anxiety) and physical (eg, oxygen, pain relief) needs before teaching is practical advice. Special considerations for pediatric and older adult patients also are included.

The style of the book demonstrates the authors' concern for safety, precision, and attention to important physical factors and reinforces their stated desire to teach and assist nurses in providing the best possible nursing care. The thoroughness, detail, and extent of information emphasize the main goal of helping patients improve their health.

Critical thinking or math calculation questions are included with each chapter. The answers can be found in the instructor's resource manual or student learning guide, available separately. It would be helpful, however, to include the answers in this book so readers can verify correctness.

Overall, this book contains a wealth of current information in an easy-to-read format. Although the title refers to "basic" pharmacology, the discussions are thorough. Complex information is presented completely and succinctly. This renders the technical information understandable to a wide audience, regardless of experience. It is an excellent learning tool for any student or a reference for an experienced nurse's library.

This book is available from Mosby, Inc, 11830 Westline Industrial Dr, St Louis, MO 63146; http://www.harcourthealth.com.

VICKI DREGER
RN, BSN
STAFF NURSE
ADVOCATE CHRIST MEDICAL CENTER
OAK LAWN, ILL

COPYRIGHT 2002 Association of Operating Room Nurses, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2002 Gale Group