Pharmacology for Nurses, Canadian Edition 3rd Edition by Michael Adams

A holistic approach to pharmacology essentials

 When students are asked which subject in their nursing program is the most challenging, pharmacology and pathophysiology always appear near the top of the list. The study of pharmacology demands that students apply knowledge from a wide variety of the natural and applied sciences. The successful prediction of drug action requires a thorough knowledge of anatomy, physiology, chemistry, and pathology, as well as knowledge of the social sciences of psychology and sociology. Current knowledge of drug actions, mechanisms, interactions, and legislation is mandatory for nurses to provide safe and effective care to their clients in all healthcare settings.

 Pharmacology for Nurses: A Pathophysiologic Approach simplifies pharmacology by linking it tightly to therapeutic goals. Instead of learning about drugs in isolation, students approach them by body systems and diseases in order to draw connections between A&P, diseases, and drug interventions. Engaging features and exercises relate pharmacology to nursing care, while discussion of alternative therapies and cultural and lifespan considerations give further context for clinical decisions. 
    NCLEX. The third Canadian edition expands on more chapters to address the rapidly growing needs of students practising in the Canadian healthcare system. Before we started writing the text, we collected feedback from university professors, asking specifically about their experience using other pharmacology texts and their perceptions of an ideal text. These professors shared some of the challenges their students face while taking a pharmacology course. An emerging but immediate need that echoed at a national level was the need to prepare Canadian nursing students to pass the NCLEX exam. 
    Holistic Perspective. Our new edition, examines pharmacology from a holistic perspective. The Special Considerations and Lifespan Considerations features present pharmacology and nursing issues related to cultural, ethnic, age, gender, and psychosocial aspects. These features remind students that a drug's efficacy is affected as much by its pharmacokinetics as by the uniqueness of the client. In addition, pediatric and geriatric considerations are integrated throughout the text.