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Drugs in Nursing Practice
Drug Calculations for Nurses Robert Lapham, HeatherAgar Arnold, 1995 ISBN 0-340604- 79-4, 250 pages Price £5.99
Drugs in Nursing Practice C R Henney, RJ Dow, A M Macconnachie Churchill Livingstone, i995, 5th edn ISBN 0-443-05235-2, 482 pages Price £ I 2 . 9 5
Drugs and Pharmacology for Nurses S J Hopkins Churchilt Livingstone, 1995, 12th edn ISBN 0-443-05249-2, 692 pages Price £13.50 Nurse prescribing has commenced at specific pilot sites and positive outcomes will lead to the wider implementation of this initiative. In light of this it is vital that nurses prepare themselves to take on this role with the responsibility and confidence that is demanded. The introduction of Drug Calculationsfor Nurses and the updating of the other two titles is therefore timely. An important aspect of any book is h o w it is presented, and potential purchasers should note this in relation to h o w they learn themselves In Drugs and Pharmacologyfor Nurses there are highlighted boxes throughout the text. These come in two types: one draws the reader's attention to specific points about a particular classification of drugs, e.g. antiviral agents, whilst the other box has an open book sign and provides recommended further reading. The good point here being that the further reading and specific points are within the text and so instantly relatable. Occasional diagrams are also useful in supporting the text. Drugs in Nursing Practicealso has boxes and these highlight the responsibilities of the nurse in monitoring the use of a specific drug. This book has a number of similarities to the British National Formula~T (BNF) in that each drug is noted with dosage, action and uses, but then follows this with nurse monitoring. Arguably, this second book is ideal as a ward companion to the BNF. Nursing responsibility over drug monitoring has increased over the years and with regular use this book will support nurses in increasing their knowledge. Both these books carry information about calculating drug dosages, but if this is an area of concern, then Drug Calculationsfor Nurses may be the answer. This little book is an ideal self-assessment course and particularly valuable if the nurse works in a number of settings or an area with a variable clientele such as an accident and emergency department. The book starts with a pretest and the reader is encouraged to repeat this test after completing specific sections. There is also a revision test at the end, so there is no Nurse EducationToday(1996) 16, 233-236
© 1996 Pearson Professional/td
excuse for not improving in one's calculations. This book has a good educational s@e with objectives at the start of each chapter, although doubts must be expressed over the cartoons, which either detract from or enhance learning depending on the individual learning style. This is not a book that a nurse can pick up and find the relevant section to sort out an immediate problem very easily. A degree of familiarity is needed which will only come with use. Being able to 'pick up and pick out' relevant information is important for the busy nurse. The two (regularly) updated books meet this criterion and both contain usefial information on such issues as security of medicines in hospitals. If considering purchase, each is likely to have a shelf-life of up to 3 years. In terms of value for money, all three books represent that, but the purchaser needs to be clear about what he or she wants from a book about drugs. Drugs in Nursing Practiceis described as a pocket book, but a rather large pocket is needed for this one-inch thick A5 sized book. This is a book recommended for ward purchase to be used alongside BNF. Drugs and Pharmacologyfor Nurses on the other hand, should (according to the author) attract a wider readership than just nurses. Thus there are recommendations that actual dosages are checked alongside the BNF. Apart from that, this is a book for study and reference and is recommended for individual purchase because o f the great deal of clearly laid out information that is included. All three books have similarities in that all deal with the same topic, and all are written by authors in the field, being a mixture of nurses and pharmacists. There are merits to each book and each is highly recommended but potential purchasers need to be cautious about the circumstances in which the book(s) will be used.
Carolyn Gibbon MA, BA, RGN, RCNT, DPSN, RNT
In the Shadow of the Epidemic: Being HIV Negative in the Age of AIDS Walt Odets Cassell, 1995 ISBN 0-304-33544-4, 302 pages Price £ I 4 . 9 9 H o w many close friends have you got? Go on, close your eyes and see them, those special intimate friends. If you are at all average you will have between three and five such friends. I, being relatively average, have four. I know, with certainty, that by the end of 1996 only two will survive; by the end of '97 probably one only, and I am not sure about him and he is not sure about me. This is the effect of HIV disease on my life and I hope it is not the same for you. It is, however, not an u n c o m m o n experience in the gay community throughout the world, decimated as it is in many areas by AIDS. My partner and I recently met an old fi-iend from London who we had not heard from for some years. For most people in this situation, the first thought in your mind is 'I haven't seen you for ages'; our first thought simultaneously and unspoken was
Drugs in Nursing Practice C R Henney, RJ Dow, A M Macconnachie Churchill Livingstone, i995, 5th edn ISBN 0-443-05235-2, 482 pages Price £ I 2 . 9 5
Drugs and Pharmacology for Nurses S J Hopkins Churchilt Livingstone, 1995, 12th edn ISBN 0-443-05249-2, 692 pages Price £13.50 Nurse prescribing has commenced at specific pilot sites and positive outcomes will lead to the wider implementation of this initiative. In light of this it is vital that nurses prepare themselves to take on this role with the responsibility and confidence that is demanded. The introduction of Drug Calculationsfor Nurses and the updating of the other two titles is therefore timely. An important aspect of any book is h o w it is presented, and potential purchasers should note this in relation to h o w they learn themselves In Drugs and Pharmacologyfor Nurses there are highlighted boxes throughout the text. These come in two types: one draws the reader's attention to specific points about a particular classification of drugs, e.g. antiviral agents, whilst the other box has an open book sign and provides recommended further reading. The good point here being that the further reading and specific points are within the text and so instantly relatable. Occasional diagrams are also useful in supporting the text. Drugs in Nursing Practicealso has boxes and these highlight the responsibilities of the nurse in monitoring the use of a specific drug. This book has a number of similarities to the British National Formula~T (BNF) in that each drug is noted with dosage, action and uses, but then follows this with nurse monitoring. Arguably, this second book is ideal as a ward companion to the BNF. Nursing responsibility over drug monitoring has increased over the years and with regular use this book will support nurses in increasing their knowledge. Both these books carry information about calculating drug dosages, but if this is an area of concern, then Drug Calculationsfor Nurses may be the answer. This little book is an ideal self-assessment course and particularly valuable if the nurse works in a number of settings or an area with a variable clientele such as an accident and emergency department. The book starts with a pretest and the reader is encouraged to repeat this test after completing specific sections. There is also a revision test at the end, so there is no Nurse EducationToday(1996) 16, 233-236
© 1996 Pearson Professional/td
excuse for not improving in one's calculations. This book has a good educational s@e with objectives at the start of each chapter, although doubts must be expressed over the cartoons, which either detract from or enhance learning depending on the individual learning style. This is not a book that a nurse can pick up and find the relevant section to sort out an immediate problem very easily. A degree of familiarity is needed which will only come with use. Being able to 'pick up and pick out' relevant information is important for the busy nurse. The two (regularly) updated books meet this criterion and both contain usefial information on such issues as security of medicines in hospitals. If considering purchase, each is likely to have a shelf-life of up to 3 years. In terms of value for money, all three books represent that, but the purchaser needs to be clear about what he or she wants from a book about drugs. Drugs in Nursing Practiceis described as a pocket book, but a rather large pocket is needed for this one-inch thick A5 sized book. This is a book recommended for ward purchase to be used alongside BNF. Drugs and Pharmacologyfor Nurses on the other hand, should (according to the author) attract a wider readership than just nurses. Thus there are recommendations that actual dosages are checked alongside the BNF. Apart from that, this is a book for study and reference and is recommended for individual purchase because o f the great deal of clearly laid out information that is included. All three books have similarities in that all deal with the same topic, and all are written by authors in the field, being a mixture of nurses and pharmacists. There are merits to each book and each is highly recommended but potential purchasers need to be cautious about the circumstances in which the book(s) will be used.
Carolyn Gibbon MA, BA, RGN, RCNT, DPSN, RNT
In the Shadow of the Epidemic: Being HIV Negative in the Age of AIDS Walt Odets Cassell, 1995 ISBN 0-304-33544-4, 302 pages Price £ I 4 . 9 9 H o w many close friends have you got? Go on, close your eyes and see them, those special intimate friends. If you are at all average you will have between three and five such friends. I, being relatively average, have four. I know, with certainty, that by the end of 1996 only two will survive; by the end of '97 probably one only, and I am not sure about him and he is not sure about me. This is the effect of HIV disease on my life and I hope it is not the same for you. It is, however, not an u n c o m m o n experience in the gay community throughout the world, decimated as it is in many areas by AIDS. My partner and I recently met an old fi-iend from London who we had not heard from for some years. For most people in this situation, the first thought in your mind is 'I haven't seen you for ages'; our first thought simultaneously and unspoken was