Mosby's 2014 Nursing Drug Reference

• New drugs and dosage information
  
• Newly researched side effects and adverse reactions
  
• New and revised Black Box Warnings
  
• The latest precautions, interactions, and contraindications
  
• IV therapy updates
  
• Revised nursing considerations
  
• Updated patient/family teaching guidelines
  

This reference is organized into three main sections:

The guiding principle behind this book is to provide fast, easy access to drug information and nursing considerations. Every detail—the paper, typeface, cover, binding, use of color, and appendixes—has been carefully chosen with the user in mind.

This book contains monographs for more than 1300 generic and 4500 trade medications. Common trade names are given for all drugs regularly used in the United States and Canada, with drugs available only in Canada identified by a maple leaf
.

The following information is provided, whenever possible, for safe, effective administration of each drug:

High-alert status:
Identifies high-alert drugs with a label and icon. Visit the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) at
http://www.ismp.org/tools/highalertmedications.pdf
for a list of medications and drug classes with the greatest potential for patient harm if they are used in error
.

Tall man lettering:
Uses the capitalization of distinguishing letters to avoid medication errors and is required by the FDA for drug manufacturers.

Pronunciation:
Helps the nurse master complex generic names.

Rx/OTC:
Identifies prescription or over-the-counter drugs.

Functional and chemical classifications:
Allow the nurse to see similarities and dissimilarities among drugs in the same functional but different chemical classes.

Do not confuse:
Present drug names that might easily be confused within each appropriate monograph.

Action:
Describes pharmacologic properties concisely.

Uses:
List the conditions the drug is used to treat.

Unlabeled uses:
Describe drug uses that may be encountered in practice but are not yet FDA approved.

Dosages and routes:
List all available and approved dosages and routes for adult, pediatric, and geriatric patients.

Available forms:
Include tablets, capsules, extended-release, injectables (IV, IM, SUBCUT), solutions, creams, ointments, lotions, gels, shampoos, elixirs, suspensions, suppositories, sprays, aerosols, and lozenges.

Side effects:
Groups these reactions by body system, with common side effects
italicized
and life-threatening reactions (those that are potentially fatal and/or permanently disabling) in
bold, red type
for emphasis.

Contraindications:
List conditions under which the drug absolutely should not be given, including FDA pregnancy safety categories D or X.

Precautions:
List conditions that require special consideration when the drug is prescribed, including FDA pregnancy safety categories A, B, or C.

Black Box Warnings:
Identify FDA warnings that highlight serious and life-threatening adverse effects.

Pharmacokinetics:
Outlines metabolism, distribution, and elimination.

Interactions:
Include confirmed drug interactions, followed by the drug or nutrient causing that interaction, when applicable.

Drug/herb:
Highlight potential interactions between herbal products and prescription or OTC drugs.

Drug/food:
Identifies many common drug interactions with foods.

Drug/lab test:
Identifies how the drug may affect lab test results.

Nursing considerations:
Identify key nursing considerations for each step of the nursing process: Assess, Administer, Perform/Provide, Evaluate, and Teach Patient/Family. Instructions for giving drugs by various routes (e.g., PO, IM, IV) are included, with route subheadings in bold.

Compatibilities:
List syringe,
Y
-site, and additive compatibilities and incompatibilities. If no compatibilities are listed for a drug, the necessary compatibility testing has not been done and that compatibility information is unknown. To ensure safety, assume that the drug may not be mixed with other drugs unless specifically stated.

“Nursing Alert” icon
: Highlights a critical consideration.

Treatment of overdose:
Provides drugs and treatment for overdoses where appropriate.

Selected new drugs:
Includes comprehensive information on 23 key drugs approved by the FDA during the past 12 months.

Ophthalmic, otic, nasal, and topical products:
Provides essential information for more than 80 ophthalmic, otic, nasal, and topical products commonly used today, grouped by chemical drug class.

Vaccines and toxoids:
Features an easy-to-use table with generic and trade names, uses, dosages and routes, and contraindications for 43 key vaccines and toxoids.

I am indebted to the nursing and pharmacology consultants who reviewed the manuscript and thank them for their criticism and encouragement. I would also like to thank Robin Carter and Shephali Graf, my editors, whose active encouragement and enthusiasm have made this book better than it might otherwise have been. I am likewise grateful to Joy Moore and Graphic World Inc. for the coordination of the production process and assistance with the development of the new edition.