Nurses in the News

New Jersey Nurse, Nov/Dec 2004

A Rutgers College of Nursing faculty member has written an encyclopedic guidebook that lists more than 1,000 commonly used medications that can fit in a nurse's lab coat.

"Nurse's Pocket Drug Guide 2005," written by JUDITH BARBERIO POLLACHEK, clinical assistant professor at the College of Nursing at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, provides information that nurses and advance practice nurses need to know when administering or prescribing medications.

The pocket guidebook, published by McGraw-Hill, lists information such as drug-drug and drug-herb interactions, drug-laboratory test alterations or effects, pertinent patient information and data on common uses, dosages, side effects and major adverse effects.

"As a practicing nurse practitioner and a faculty member teaching Pharmacology, I am acutely aware of the nurses' responsibility for knowing the ramifications of every drug they administer or prescribe. Nurses can carry this pocket-size reference book in their lab coat and easily obtain pertinent information on any drug in question," Pollachek, a Tewksbury Township resident, said. "The guidebook gives a concise synopsis on each drug to quickly and accurately inform the nurse of potential side effects and drug/herb/lab test interactions as well as significant patient testing points. The medications are listed alphabetically by generic name and an index cross references brand names and drug classifications."

Pollachek said she selected commonly used medications ranging from typically prescribed primary care medications such as antihypertensives to the newest oncology medication for chemotherapy patients that are prescribed in offices, clinics and hospitals.

Pollachek said the guidebook would be updated annually and next year's edition will also have information on herbal medications and nutraceuticals. "We will research between 50 and 100 herbs and nutraceuticals and how they interact with various prescription medications," she added.

Working with Pollachek on the book as consulting editor was Leonard Gomella, chair of the department of urology at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, and Aimee Golhot Adams, Steven Haist, and Kelly Smith, pharmacy professors at the University of Kentucky Medical Center, as associate editors.

From its headquarters at RutgersNewark, Rutgers College of Nursing offers a broad range of academic programs on all three Rutgers campuses; The college offers a master's program with unique practitioner clinical specialties, and the only doctoral (Ph.D) nursing degree in New Jersey.

The Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality (SSSS) will present its Public Service Award to a Rutgers College of Nursing Emerita faculty member, BEVERLY WHIPPLE, at its 46th annual meeting at the Wyndham Orlando Resort, Orlando, FL, November 6, 2004.

The SSSS Public Service Award is given for outstanding achievement or impact in such areas as public awareness of sexual issues, public advocacy, professional practice by educators, health specialists, and legislation or public policy formation.

Whipple, Professor Emerita, at the College of Nursing at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, was honored for her long and distinguished career as a researcher, educator, health care practitioner and advocate. She has previously received the Professional Standard of Excellence Award from the American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT) and the Distinguished Scientific Achievement Award from SSSS among other awards.

"I'm extremely honored that my contributions to this field has been recognized by such a prestigious organization," said Whipple, a Medford resident.

Whipple's research focused on women's health issues and the sexual physiology of women. She is the coauthor of the international bestseller, "The G Spot and Other Recent Discoveries about Human Sexuality," which has been translated in 19 languages including French, Spanish, Dutch, Afrikaans, and Icelandic and will be republished as a classic in January 2005. She has co-authored three additional books and written more than 125 research articles and book chapters.

She is listed in the World Who's Who of Women; International Who's Who in Sexology, Who's Who in American Nursing and in Contemporary Authors. Whipple belongs to many organizations. Whipple is vice president of the World Association for Sexology, was president of the AASECT and is past president of the SSSS. She is a Fellow of the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality and a Fellow in the Academy of Nursing.

Founded in 1957, SSSS is an international organization dedicated to the advancement of knowledge about sexuality and brings together an interdisciplinary group of professionals who believe in the importance of both the production of quality research and the clinical, educational, and social applications of research related to all aspects of sexuality.

From its headquarters at Rutgers Newark, Rutgers College of Nursing offers a broad range of academic programs on all three Rutgers campuses. The college offers a master's program with unique practitioner specialties and the only doctoral (Ph.D) nursing degree in New Jersey.