Pharmacotherapeutics: Clinical Decision-Making in Nursing

This new text integrates knowledge of pathophysiology and pharmacology with specific drug and patient variables to help nurses understand the rationale for choosing one drug over another. As a result of this knowledge, nurses are able to use clinical judgment to provide better patient care.Using a body system organization, it explains each of the major drug groups, the conditions for which they are used, and their effects on the various body systems. For each given disease or condition, the text walks the reader through treatment objectives, pharmacotherapeutic options, side effects, and the critical thinking process, analysis, implementation, and evaluation.

Uses a body system organisation to illustrate the correlations between major drug groups and the conditions for which they are used.

Features a physiological/pathophysiological approach to explain the physical and cellular causes of specific diseases and the advantage of using certain drugs for therapy.

Presents 46 case studies that emphasise the importance of patient, drug, and age-related variables when determining which drug to use for a specific problem.

Provides hypothetical controversies to increase awareness of ethical, legal, and practical dilemmas. Critical thinking questions follow each controversy.

Includes pharmacokinetics, drug-drug interaction, and drug-regimen tables for easy reference.

Offers algorithms and step-by-step figures to illustrate the assessment, clinical application, and knowledge of appropriate pharmacotherapeutic care.