With a concise, straightforward approach, this trusted text puts difficult concepts and essential drug calculation skills into a practical nursing context and prepares you for real-world responsibilities. Completely revised and updated with the most current information in nursing practice, a variety of strong learning tools, and new NCLEX examination study questions, this latest edition makes pharmacology more accessible than ever. UNIQUE! Prototype Drug Charts provide you with quick reference to key drug information, including dosages, contraindications, drug-lab-food interactions, pharmacokinetics, and more. UNIQUE! An extensive Dosage Calculations unit strengthens your mathematical skills and eliminates the need for a separate calculations book. Nursing Process summaries guide you through client care and drug therapy within the step-by-step framework of the nursing process. Critical Thinking Case Studies challenge you to apply your knowledge and analytical skills to realistic patient scenarios. A Principles of Drug Administration chapter guides you through drug administration procedures, addressing all routes of administration and various settings. Client Teaching sections prepare you for client interaction, with teaching tips for general drug administration, self-administration, diet, side effects, and cultural considerations. A companion CD reinforces your knowledge and enhances your review with approximately 450 NCLEX examination-style review questions, including alternate-item format questions; 30 pharmacology animations; IV therapy and medication error checklists; drug calculation problems; and electronic dosage calculators. UNIQUE! Illustrated overviews of normal anatomy and physiology in all drug therapy chapters help you understand how drugs work in various body systems. An appendix on bioterrorism agents helps you recognize the clinical manifestations of bioterrorism weapons and respond with appropriate drug treatments. UNIQUE! Herbal Alerts provide quick reference to side effects, drug interactions, and additional information for popular herbs you may encounter in practice. NCLEX Examination-style Study Questions prepare you for the growing pharmacology coverage on the NCLEX-RN exam. Updated and expanded Preventing Medication Errors boxes help you ensure safe drug administration. Targeted Therapies to Treat Cancer chapter familiarizes you with cutting-edge cancer treatments such as multikinase inhibitors, angiogenesis inhibitors, and monoclonal antibodies. A new unit helps you easily locate appropriate drug therapy for managing pain and inflammation. Additional photos and illustrations visually reinforce your understanding of drug actions and relevant anatomy and physiology. Separate units on antibacterial and antiinfective agents clearly differentiate these commonly used agents. Page numbers accompany key terms for easier reference.

UNIT ONE: A Nurses Perspective of Pharmacology 1. Drug Action: Pharmaceutic, Pharmacokinetic, and Pharmacodynamic Phases 2. Nursing Process and Client Teaching 3. Principles of Drug Administration

UNIT TWO: Dosage Calculations 4. Medications and Calculations Section 4A: Systems of Measurement with Conversion Section 4B: Methods for Calculation Section 4C: Calculations of Oral Dosages Section 4D: Calculations of Injectable Dosages Section 4E: Calculations of Intravenous Fluids Section 4F: Pediatric Drug Calculations

UNIT THREE: Contemporary Issues in Pharmacology 5. The Drug Approval Process 6. Transcultural and Genetic Considerations 7. Drug Interaction and Over-the-Counter Drugs 8. Drugs of Abuse 9. Herbal Therapy with Nursing Implications 10. Pediatric Pharmacology 11. Geriatric Pharmacology 12. Medication Administration in Comm

UNITy Settings 13. The Role of the Nurse in Drug Research

UNIT FOUR: Nutrition and Electrolytes 14. Vitamin and Mineral Replacement 15. Fluid and Electrolyte Replacement 16. Nutritional Support

UNIT FIVE: Autonomic Nervous System Agents 17. Adrenergics and Adrenergic Blockers 18. Cholinergics and Anticholinergics

UNIT SIX: Neurologic and Neuromuscular Agents 19. Central Nervous System Stimulants 20. Central Nervous System Depressants 21. Anticonvulsants 22. Drugs for Neurologic Disorders: Parkinsonism and Alzheimers Disease 23. Drugs for Neuromuscular Disorders: Myasthenia Gravis, Multiple Sclerosis, and Muscle Spasms

UNIT SEVEN: Antiinflammatory and Pain Management Agents NEW! 24. Antiinflammatory Drugs 25. Nonopioid and Opioid Analgesics

UNIT EIGHT: Psychiatric Agents 26. Antipsychotics and Anxiolytics 27. Antidepressants and Mood Stabilizer

UNIT NINE: Antibacterial Agents NEW! 28. Penicillins and Cephalosporins 29. Macrolides, Tetracyclines, Aminoglycosides, and Fluoroquinolones 30. Sulfonamides

UNIT TEN: Antiinfective Agents NEW! 31. Antituberculars, Antifungals, Peptides, and Metronidazole 32. Antivirals, Antimalarials, and Anthelmintics 33. Drugs for Urinary Tract Disorders

UNIT ELEVEN: Immunologic Agents 34. HIV and AIDS-Related Drugs 35. Vaccines

UNIT TWELVE: Antineoplastic Agents 36. Anticancer Drugs 37. Targeted Therapies to Treat Cancer NEW! 38. Biologic Response Modifiers

UNIT THIRTEEN: Respiratory Agents 39. Drugs for Upper Respiratory Disorders 40. Drugs for Lower Respiratory Disorders

UNIT FOURTEEN: Cardiovascular Agents 41. Cardiac Glycosides, Antianginals, Antidysrhythmics 42. Diuretics 43. Antihypertensives 44. Anticoagulants, Antiplatelets, and Thrombolytics 45. Antilipids and Peripheral Vasodilators

UNIT FIFTEEN: Gastrointestinal Agents 46. Drugs for Gastrointestinal Tract Disorders 47. Antiulcer Drugs

UNIT SIXTEEN: Eye, Ear, and Skin Agents 48. Drugs for Eye and Ear Disorders 49. Drugs for Dermatologic Disorders

UNIT SEVENTEEN: Endocrine Agents 50. Endocrine Drugs: Pituitary, Thyroid, Parathyroid, and Adrenal Disorders 51. Antidiabetics

UNIT EIGHTEEN: Reproductive and Gender-Related Agents 52. Female Reproductive Cycle I: Pregnancy and Preterm Labor Drugs 53. Female Reproductive Cycle II: Labor, Delivery, and Preterm Neonatal Drugs 54. Postpartum and Newborn Drugs 55. Drugs for Womens Health and Reproductive Diso