Nursing Pharmacology

Reviewed by Marjorie Webb, Professor, Metropolitan State University on 2/8/24

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

The textbook provides a comprehensive overview of pharmacology at the student RN level. Within the Kinetics & Dynamics chapter, each area of pharmacokinetics included a section on variations for pediatrics and older adults. It is important for nursing students to be exposed to the differences that can occur in different age groups. The book also includes segments on nursing process for the various drug categories.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

Since my area of expertise is CV, I chose to examine this chapter closely. In CV medications, the book discusses digoxin as a 2nd line medication. That is clearly up-to-date, digoxin is no longer a first line medication for any CV disorder, some textbooks don't keep up with these changes.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

The content is up-to-date. The authors just updated the text to a 2nd edition. Many topics in pharmacology stay the same, but of course there are hundreds of new medications that come on the market every year.

Clarity rating: 5

The book is written well and in a way that is easy to read for undergraduate students.

Consistency rating: 5

The chapters are all laid out in the same way. The terminology is similar throughout.

Modularity rating: 5

I am able to divide this text easily for my students. I can pick and choose exactly what I want them to read/learn about.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

The topics are presented in a logical way.

Interface rating: 5

Very easy to navigate.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

Grammatically correct

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

in the 2nd chapter, the authors do discuss culturally congruent practice and cultural competence. I think they could consider changing to "cultural humility" or "cultural respect" since "cultural competence" is not really achievable. The authors also discuss social determinants of health in this chapter, which are important for nursing students to understand. The authors include a few examples of culturally congruent practice and medication therapy. There are genetic differences in the way that drugs are metabolized. The authors may want to consider including a brief section on genetics and pharmacokinetics.

Comments

This book is well done and easy for nursing students to use. I have used it as my primary text for a couple of years now.
Ideas for the next revision:
I think in GI, it is time to add a section on medications used for weight loss (such as Ozempic and Wegovy). These medications are being prescribed/used at a very high rate and nurses should be familiar with them.
Also in antidiabetic medications SGLT2 inhibitors are becoming increasingly popular in use, they may should be added in the endocrine section.

Reviewed by Kari Garin, Nursing Faculty, Normandale Community College on 5/18/23

Comprehensiveness rating: 4 see less

The text is definitely designed for entry-level nursing students and covers fewer exemplars/drug classes than other texts I have utilized in pharmacology courses (missing immune modulators, contraceptives, chemotherapy agents, meds for OAB and BPH), but presents common drug classes in a concise and understandable way. The glossary and table of contents are excellent.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

Content is unbiased and without obvious errors. Data appears accurrate with supporting evidence citations and references.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

Text includes action, indication, nursing considerations, adverse effects, patient teaching/education, and a medication grid for each drug class. Adding additional hyperlinks for new drugs or drug class generations in future editions would be one way to keep up-to-date.

Clarity rating: 5

Reading level is appropriate for an introduction to pharmacology course, seems suitable for multi-lingual students. Bolded text offers basic definitions of unfamiliar words. Text and ancillary materials are clear and tailored to a novice audiance - offers solid foundation for learning basic pharmacology concepts.

Consistency rating: 5

Framework is simple, understandable and user-friendly.

Modularity rating: 5

Excellent. Easy to follow, concise chapters with consistent layout. Adjunct modules and interactive learning activities truly seem to enhance the readings. Very nice physiology review at the beginning of each section.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

Accessible and easy-to-read table of contents. "Search in book" function works well. Less page scrolling is necessary with this text than previous online pharmacology books I have used in class.

Interface rating: 5

Lovely images and charts. No distortion of features, reads aesthetically.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

No obvious or distracting grammatical errors.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

Wonderful chapter on Cultural and Social Determinants related to Medication Administration!

Comments

The text is well-written and comprehensive, the right level entry-level nursing students. The book includes links to DailyMed for reference to information about medications from the National Library of Medicine/National Institutes of Health. I especially appreciate that the on-line version of the resource includes alternate learning activities such as flash cards, mini quizzes, videos, case studies and graphics which could be used individually, or in class as a starting point for formative learning or group discussions.

Reviewed by Rachel Day, Assistant Professor of Nursing, University of Saint Francis on 4/11/23

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

The book covers all important areas of pharmacology

Content Accuracy rating: 5

Information in the book is accurate

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

Information is accurate based on current best practices

Clarity rating: 5

The information was clear and concise. It tailors to an audience who is unfamiliar with concepts and allows them to learn with clarity.

Consistency rating: 5

The book is consistent, with the same writing styles throughout

Modularity rating: 5

The book is clearly labelled, and broken into appropriate modules.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

The book flows well, from topic to topic, with connections made as appropriate

Interface rating: 5

No issues with interface

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

No errors noted

Cultural Relevance rating: 4

Book provides culturally appropriate examples being mindful of special considerations for ethnicities in pharmacology.

Comments

This book was really helpful to review as a pharmacology professor. It offered information in a way that is easy to understand and allows for comprehensive learning for nursing students. Information is relevant, up to date, and inclusive.

Reviewed by Jennifer Morehart, Nursing Faculty Lead ~ Clinical Coordinator, Northwest Technical College on 3/1/23

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

This text book gives a good overall comprehensive review of pharmacology from the perspective of how it affects each system in the body. Along with inclusion on pharmacokinetics, dynamics, and legal/ethical considerations each chapter is broken down into basic overview of the body systems and the pertinent medications for that area. Included are alternate learning activities such as flash cards, mini quizzes, videos, and graphics.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

Content is accurate both from the perspective of the body systems and the drugs that are pertinent for that area. Links to DailyMed help keep the book relevant to current medications.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

This book would be excellent for both PN and AD nursing programs and could also be considered for a general pharmacology course for those interested in other areas of medicine such as medical coding, or pharmacy technician.

Clarity rating: 5

The ease of use of the on-line book is wonderful. Reading level is appropriate for entry level knowledge into the pharmacology world. Learning activities embedded within the various chapters makes for clarity of understanding and also alternative ways of learning.

Consistency rating: 5

Information in the text is consistently presented throughout the text to make not only finding relevant material easy but also to navigate through the material.

Modularity rating: 5

Organization of the text into modules based on the body systems helps the learner to focus attention on relevant information as it pertains to each body system. This makes learning more relevant and tangible to for many learners.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

Topics and sub-topics in the text are present in a uniform manner throughout the book. With in the sub-topics you can also consistently find medication considerations throughout the lifespan.

Interface rating: 5

Utilizing Google Chrome I had no issue with utilizing the text book. You can download the book into a PDF format also if the reader has issues with internet connectivity. Using the text-book on-line gives access to items such as videos, and interactive activities that you can otherwise not access in a PDF.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

I noticed no grammatical errors.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

Cultural and social determinants related to medication administration is addressed as part of the legal and ethical considerations for medication administration.

Comments

This is book is a great resource that a pharmacology class could utilize very easily for pre-licensure students and as a review/resource for those looking to expand or reexamine their knowledge.

Reviewed by Theresa Long, Professor, Tidewater Community College on 12/15/22

Comprehensiveness rating: 4 see less

ADN level of material that covers all the required areas of pharmacology for the 2 year program. It is a "need to know" without getting bogged down in the "nice to know." Glossary is easy to use, There are some newer medications and new classes of drugs missing that make the book somewhat dates.

Content Accuracy rating: 3

In the antidiabetic chapter only one brand of rapid insulin is shown which may be construed to endorse only one type of rapid insulin. That may be because it was the first one produced in the 1990s. This chapter needs much updating to include the new class of antibiabetic medications such as GLP1s and SGLT2s.
The book lists calcitonin as the one drug to treat osteoporosis. There are many additional drugs and should be mentioned.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 3

The endocrine chapter is terribly out of date , especially the antidiabetic section which does not include the newer insulins. It should at least include the newest drugs included as the first step according to the ADA guidelines. The sitagliptin picture is a Russian label. Only 1 DDP4 is mentioned but no GLP1 or SGLT2 classes which are so popular today. Osteoporosis drugs are also not up to date. Missing in the osteoporosis section are Risedronate (Actonel), Ibandronate (Boniva), aintravenous (IV) infusions Zoledronic acid (Reclast).
Denosumab (Prolia, Xgeva) might be used in people who can't take a bisphosphonate, such as some people with reduced kidney function. Students should be able to at least recognize these drugs.

Clarity rating: 5

It is written for the community college level which is very useful for this population. The diagrams and pictures clarify the textual explanations to make it clear.

Consistency rating: 5

The style of writing continues throughout each chapter. The organization for each chapter is consistant.

Modularity rating: 5

The book is designed so that each chapter has interactive excercises including quizzing, flashcards, and what I feel is most important, critical tining activities. The length of each chapter is digestable and keeps the readers interest interspersed with graphics and tables that summarize the medications presented in each chapter.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

The chapters are orgainzed according to class which is easiest to understand.

Interface rating: 4

It was difficult at first to find the "next" on the bottom right of the page which was in very small print. That could be larger. Using the table of contents was easy but to go fluidly from page to page was difficult at first. Charts and pictures were displayed correctly and were not a distraction.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

I found no errors in grammar or spelling.

Cultural Relevance rating: 4

Using drug labels from other countries such as Russia may be offensive to some. In general, the book is non discriminatory.

Comments

Tony Guerra who wrote Memorizing Pharmacology uses this book in his podcasts and evidently his classes. His review of the critical thinking excercises from each chapter are really a valuable asset to the book. Pairing the two resources, I have found is an excellent way of covering pharmacology.

Reviewed by Rachel Seltz-Falk, Professor of Practice of Nursing Level 1, Grand View University on 12/23/21

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

The book covers majority of the classifications of medications with a strong emphasis on nursing implications and safe medication administration. It includes action, indication, nursing considerations, adverse effects, patient teaching/education, and a medication grid for each classification. I also like that it includes a chapter on legal and ethical considerations for medication administration.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

Medication information is up to date. It is a great book to help nursing students learn medications.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 4

The medication information included is up to date. New medications are continuously being developed, and it would be easy to add those to this book.

Clarity rating: 5

Medications are grouped by concept/system it affects and then broken down even further into pharmacological classification in each chapter.

Consistency rating: 5

Each chapter starts with a basic concept overview to help the reader better understand the action of medications. Chapters are organized in the same format and includes the same important information for safe medication administration. A glossary is included at the end of each chapter.

Modularity rating: 5

It is easily divisible into smaller reading sections with medications being broke down into pharmacological classifications within each chapter.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

Medications are group together by body system they work on, and the pharmacological classifications are appropriately placed.

Interface rating: 5

The table of contents includes hyperlinks to take the reader directly desired section of the book.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

No obvious grammatical errors.

Cultural Relevance rating: 4

The book has a section dedicated to cultural and social determinates related to medication administration and provides specific examples. The book also provides links to additional resources for the reader to learn more about cultural considerations.

Comments

I appreciate the interactive and critical thinking activities throughout each chapter. The activities can help students apply their learning and assess their understanding of the content.

Reviewed by Alicia Layne, RN, MSN, Assistant Professor, Massachusetts Bay Community College on 6/8/21

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

The Nursing Pharmacology OER by the Wisconsin Technical College System authored by Chippewa Valley Technical College is comprehensive for entry level nursing students that covers areas aligned with our curriculum and end of program student learning outcomes in pharmacology. The Table of Content was easy to read and well organized. Each chapter covered the learning objectives, an introduction, basic concepts and principles, medication types, effects, considerations and safety in preparation and administration, module learning activities and interactive activities, critical thinking activities and a glossary. Answer keys were provided at the end of the book. The references were evidenced-based and comprehensive.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

Information, figures, tables were found to be evidenced-based, error-free, and unbiased. Appropriate references are found in each section. Some references used were more than 5 years old which I am sure will be updated. I would recommend referencing the answer keys as well.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

This book is definitely a good resource for the first semester nursing students taking up pharmacology for the first time as well as graduate nurses seeking to review topics covered in the various chapters. The length of each chapter and subsections were not so lengthy to lose the interest of the reader, making it easy to understand and remember.

Clarity rating: 5

The language and glossary helped the reader to have a clear understanding of the technical terminology in pharmacology. The table of content and organization of topics were clearly mapped out. The book was easy to read and understand specially for first year nursing students as well as advancing students in nursing.

Consistency rating: 5

The consistency in the presentation of information in each chapter were formatted in the same way starting from learning objectives, introduction, basic concepts and principles, medication types, effects, considerations and safety in preparation and administration, module learning activities, interactive activities, critical thinking activities and a glossary. Answer keys were provided at the end of the book. References were evidenced-based and comprehensive.

Modularity rating: 5

The text in each chapter was easy to read, comprehend and divided into smaller reading sections. The modules can be easily subdivided for discussion and assignments. There is an excellent flow of topics from one module to the next.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

The topics covered basic concepts and principles in pharmacology progressing to application of concepts in the nursing process with emphasis in safety, effects, patient education as well. The division of the modules into the various body systems and functions were logical and clear.

Interface rating: 4

I did not see any interface issues. It was easy to navigate and find specific topics through the table of contents and search button. The different formats of online, ebook, pdf were all well organized, and easy to use. I suggest seeing page numbers in the table of contents.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

No issues found in grammar.

Cultural Relevance rating: 4

Relevant cultural and social determinations were included in each chapter. I did not see any culturally insensitive entries in the book. More examples could be included in the learning activities related to medication practices from other cultures or race.

Comments

I am so glad for the opportunity to explore and use OER resources. I will definitely promote this resource to my students and co-faculty.

Reviewed by Jennifer Turner, Assistant Professor of Nursing, Radford University on 6/8/21

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

Excellent layout and depth of information for the entry level nursing student

Content Accuracy rating: 5

Reviewing the most up to date information, relevance to healthcare/nursing and medication information was accurate

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

Modern, easy to read and pertinent for all nursing student educational plans

Clarity rating: 5

Simple yet on a level students will learn and can apply the knowledge in the classroom and clinical setting

Consistency rating: 5

The layout of the textbook and the chapters is systematic for the learner. I like the strategic design for my style of teaching.

Modularity rating: 5

Sections are arranged based on medication classes. Students can easily review the key topics and move to the next section with ease.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

Great! I like the layout and would consider adopting this text for my pharmacology classes.

Interface rating: 5

Seamless navigation through sections, offering a variety of learning and visuals to aid in the learning process.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

Appropriate use of grammar with no identified errors

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

Evidence of inclusion of culturally relevant topics, no evidence of insensitive or offensive dialogue.

Reviewed by Alexander Lawson, Assistant Professor, North Shore Community College on 6/3/21

Comprehensiveness rating: 4 see less

The book is comprehensive throughout. The glossary and index make it easy to find subject matter. Most of the general material that I typically cover in my pharmacology course is covered within this textbook, though some specifics are missing (i.e. Types of oral medications and definitions of different portions of the formulary or more examples of different drug types)

Content Accuracy rating: 5

I looked through most of the material and I did not find anything that appeared erroneous.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 4

The book was current with material that I cover in my course. Also the other videos and web content were current and easy to follow.

Clarity rating: 5

The text was extremely easy to read and clear. The depth of the text content itself was toward surface level, but the critical thinking exercises helped for deeper thinking.

Consistency rating: 4

I feel the text was very consistent, however, I do think there could have been more foundational terminology, specifically related to the formulary of drugs, even if it was just added to the glossary.

Modularity rating: 5

The modularity was great with this resource. It was well broken down in easy to read segments with different exercises and films intertwined.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

I felt this was well organized, with understanding the basics of pharmacology and then going more into direct drugs.

Interface rating: 5

Easy to navigate, and having the content easily accessible from the web or ebook interface was even more helpful.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

I am not the best at spelling and grammar, but I did not notice anything incorrect with what I reviewed.

Cultural Relevance rating: 3

I did not find the book to be culturally insensitive. I did not find very much regarding culture specifically in the sections which I reviewed.

Comments

I thought this book was a valuable resource. My biggest advice would be to include some more about the basics of pharmacology, including more on safe medication administration. Include drug formulation and more about standardization. Go into some pharmacological history, and how drugs are developed as well. Understanding development can be the basis of understanding drugs. In the future, if it could be linked with an OER drug guide for more medication profiles and examples, that would assist students greatly.

Reviewed by Nancyruth Leibold, Associate Professor, Southwest Minnesota State University on 2/6/21, updated 6/1/21

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

This textbook is designed for entry-level undergraduate nursing students as a basic comprehensive pharmacology textbook. The book includes links to DailyMed for reference to information about medications from the National Library of Medicine/National Institutes of Health. Each chapter starts with learning objectives. Quizzes are found in each chapter with the answers and rationales provided at the end of the text. Critical thinking activities and interactive activities are included. A glossary is found at the end of each chapter. The source is comprehensive for an introductory nursing pharmacology text.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

The textbook includes accurate nursing pharmacology information with supporting evidence citations and references. The content is without content errors, and unbiased.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

Any nursing pharmacology textbook would require frequent updating due to the rapid dynamic state of the topic. The Nursing Pharmacology textbook is up to date. Due to the comprehensiveness of the text, it will be a project to update, but doable.

Clarity rating: 5

The Nursing Pharmacology textbook content is clear. It includes figures, images, and tables to organize some content. Critical thinking activities and interactive activities are included to promote and check understanding. The answers to interactive knowledge checks are found in the answer key sections at the end of the book. There are many appropriate terms that are defined and described. Abbreviations are spelled out at the first use.

Consistency rating: 5

The format of the chapters throughout the Nursing Pharmacology text are consistent. Chapter features, such as interactive activities include a consistent format and terminology.

Modularity rating: 5

Each chapter of Nursing Pharmacology starts with learning objectives. The chapters include headings and subheadings to present the content in smaller chunks, using an organized fashion. Quizzes are found in each chapter with the answers and rationales provided at the end of text.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

Nursing Pharmacology is a well-organized text that flows well. There are ten chapters in the text and answers to the quiz questions in each chapter are found at the end of book. The tables, images, and figures are helpful and point out the key ideas. A glossary is found at the end of each chapter.

Interface rating: 5

The navigation is consistent throughout the text. The links were all in working order. Good use of white space is present.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

The Nursing Pharmacology book is free of grammar and spelling errors.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

The Nursing Pharmacology textbook is free of culturally insensitive language or biases. The examples used are diverse. Names used in the case examples could be more inclusive of a variety of cultures.

Comments

Nursing Pharmacology is a well-written book that is a positive addition to the Open Textbook Library. Many thanks to the authors, editors, and reviewers for their work with this book!

Reviewed by Wanda Dooley, Director of Nursing, Coastal Carolina University on 8/18/20

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

The text is comprehensive and at an appropriate level for pre-licensure students. The glossary is excellent, as is the Table of Contents.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

The text is mostly free of bias or errors and is up-to-date and accurate. I wondered why only the Wisconsin Nurse Practice Act was spelled out in detail, but perhaps this text is only planned for use in Wisconsin? A more general section on the Nurse Practice Act, which is different in every state, but meets the same purpose in every state, would make the text available to a broader audience. Also, in the section on peak and trough blood levels, the text said the peak level is drawn at the time the drug is administered. That is not usually the case for most drugs. Most peak levels are drawn 30 to 60 minutes AFTER administration, so that is an error that should be corrected in the next edition. Another phrase that is widely used, but not actually accurate, is the phrase "placental barrier". The placenta is not a true barrier and lets almost everything through in some level - sometimes the same blood level the mother has, so too high a level for a fetus or neonate. While pregnancy needs to be considered in medication administration, if a student learns the placenta is a barrier in their first semester, it is hard to reteach later that unlike the blood-brain barrier, the placenta is an organ, not a barrier. Students should know that every drug will have a pregnancy category listed in the prescribing information, so that could be addressed without labeling the placenta as a barrier.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

Content is up-to-date, but not in a way that will quickly make the text obsolete within a short period of time. The text is written and/or arranged in such a way that necessary updates will be relatively easy and straightforward to implement.

Clarity rating: 5

The text is well written and clear, and provides adequate context and/or explanations for any jargon/technical terminology used.

Consistency rating: 5

The text is internally consistent in terms of terminology and framework. The inclusion of the glossary is a great addition.

Modularity rating: 5

The text is easily divided into smaller reading sections that can be assigned at different points within the course. The text is not overly self-referential and can be easily reorganized and realigned with various subunits of a course without presenting much disruption to the reader.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

The topics in the text are presented in a logical, clear fashion. The overview of the cardiac system and the coagulation cascade might be a bit much for novice students.

Interface rating: 5

The text is free of navigation problems, distortion of images/charts, and any other display features that may distract or confuse the reader. It offers a clear and straightforward read.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

The text contains no grammatical errors. A discussion of parenteral injections had an oddly worded sentence: "For example, injections are often painful and cause a break in the skin, an important barrier to infection." To students with lower literacy levels or for whom English is a second language, that sounds like the break in the skin is an important barrier to infection - which is backwards. Perhaps: The skin is an important barrier to infection, and injections, which can be painful, also break that barrier. Again, one sentence is easily addressed, so not a deterrent to using this textbook.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

The text is not culturally insensitive or offensive in any way. It makes use of examples that are inclusive of a variety of races, ethnicities, and backgrounds. The section on ethics is a great addition to culturally sensitive nursing care.

Comments

This is an excellent introductory text. I think it could be enhanced near the end by adding a description of the two main methods of administering naloxone. The drug is discussed, but the text does not state how it can be administered. The section on Wisconsin law and the Wisconsin NPA is a little odd in a general textbook, but if specific state law has to be included for some reason, faculty can easily lead a discussion on the NPA in the state the course is taught in, as that is likely the state where pre-licensure students would administer medications in a clinical practice setting.