McKenna's Pharmacology for Nursing, 2e

To the student using this text

A s you begin your study of pharmacology, don’t be over- whelmed or confused by all of the details. The study of drugs fits perfectly into your study of the human body— anatomy, physiology, chemistry, nutrition, psychology and sociology. Approach the study of pharmacology from the per- spective of putting all of the pieces together; this can be not only fun, but also challenging! Work to understand

the concepts and all of the details will fall into place and be easy to remember and apply to the clinical situation. This understanding will help you in creating the picture of the whole person as you are learning to provide comprehensive care. This text is designed to help you accomplish all of this in a simple and concise manner. Good luck! Lisa McKenna and Anecita Gigi Lim

Acknowledgements F ocus on Nursing Pharmacology by Amy Karch provided the foundation for the development of the first edition of this text, which was titled Pharmacol- ogy for Nursing and Midwifery. We are grateful to Amy for the exciting opportunity to further develop her work in an Australian and New Zealand context in this second edition. Reflecting the local nature, we have been mindful in the adaptation of the needs of nursing, mid- wifery and other professional healthcare students. Pharmacology knowledge is vital for safe and effec- tive nursing and midwifery care. This text aims to provide evidence-based information to support optimal learning and ease of knowledge application to practice

for students, and ultimately, to promote high levels of care delivery. We are grateful to the many reviewers who provided valuable feedback. We are also incredibly thankful to Penny Martin and Caroline Hunter from Wolters Kluwer Health and to the editors at Puddingburn Pub- lishing Services for their continued encouragement, support and guidance across all stages of development. Finally, we are especially grateful to our respective families, Hayley and Lachlan, and Gerald and Morteza for their patience and support during the process of developing this book. Lisa McKenna and Anecita Gigi Lim