Introductory Clinical Pharmacology

A clear, concise introduction to modern pharmacology, this valuable and popular book - now in its 4th edition - reflects the most up-to-date drug information in the field. Arithmetic and the calculation of drug dosages are reviewed as well as material on the nursing process as it applies to the management of pharmacologic agents. "Introductory Clinical Pharmacology" examines all major drug classifications and the general principles of drug administration and dosages. Chapters are divided into drug sections, drug uses, and adverse reactions associated with the administration of a particular pharmacologic agent. The nursing process applicable to the administration of a specific class or type of drug is presented after the discussion of each class or type of drug. Drugs included in each chapter are represented by a summary drug table. Concise and easy-to-understand explanations stress nursing responsibilities for administration, and the importance of patient teaching as a significant factor in patient compliance with the therapeutic regimen. Nursing diagnoses identify patient problems applicable to the drug being administered. Special features of this book include drug chapters ordered by drug classification instead of body system; learning objectives indicated at the beginning of each chapter; each drug class discussed in terms of its actions, uses, adverse reactions, and nursing process; expanded nursing process sections; nursing diagnosis sections which include patient teaching information under "knowledge deficit" in bulleted lists; and summary drug tables in each chapter which list generic and trade drug names, uses, adverse reactions, and usual dosage ranges.