12
P A R T 1
Introduction to nursing pharmacology
Therapeutic Guidelines
provides a wide range of
drug information in a series of systematic guides, such
as antibiotics and gastrointestinal pharmacology. These
guidelines draw upon a range of evaluated literature and
research.
McKenna’s Drug Handbook for Nursing and Mid-
wifery
has drug monographs organised alphabetically
and includes care implications and important teaching
points specifically relevant to nursing and midwifery
practice.
Numerous other drug handbooks are also on the
market and readily available for nurses and midwives
to use.
Journals
Various journals can be used to obtain drug informa-
tion. For example, the
Medical Letter
is a monthly
review of new drugs, drug classes and specific treat-
ment protocols. Many clinical nursing and midwifery
journals
offer information on new drugs, drug errors
and care implications.
Australian Prescriber
is a useful
source of easily interpreted pharmacology information
and is freely available online.
Internet information
Many individuals now use the Internet as a source of
medical information and advice. Nurses and midwives
need to become familiar with what is available on the
Internet and what people may be referencing, and have
skills in critiquing the credibility of these sources.
CHAPTER SUMMARY
■■
Drugs are chemicals that are introduced into the
body to bring about some sort of change.
■■
Drugs can come from many sources: plants, animals,
inorganic elements and synthetic preparations.
■■
The TGA regulates the development and marketing
of drugs to ensure safety and efficacy in Australia.
■■
Preclinical trials involve testing of potential drugs on
laboratory animals to determine their therapeutic and
adverse effects.
■■
Phase I studies test potential drugs on healthy human
subjects.
■■
Phase II studies test potential drugs on individuals
who have the disease the drugs are designed to treat.
■■
Phase III studies test drugs in the clinical setting
to determine any unanticipated effects or lack of
effectiveness.
■■
TGA pregnancy categories indicate the potential or
actual teratogenic effects of a drug.
■■
Generic drugs are sold under their chemical names,
not brand names; they may be cheaper but are not
necessarily as safe as brand-name drugs.
■■
Orphan drugs are chemicals that have been
discovered to have some therapeutic effect but that
are not financially advantageous to develop into
drugs.
■■
OTC drugs are available without prescription for the
self-treatment of various complaints.
■■
Information about drugs can be obtained from a
variety of sources, including the drug label, reference
books, journals and Internet sites.
Knowing your strengths and weaknesses helps you to
study more effectively. Take a PrepU Practice Quiz
to find out how you measure up!
ONLINE RESOURCES
An extensive range of additional resources to enhance teaching
and learning and to facilitate understanding of this chapter may
be found online at the text’s accompanying website, located on
thePoint at
These include Watch and
Learn videos, Concepts in Action animations, journal articles,
review questions, case studies, discussion topics and quizzes.
WEB LINKS
Healthcare providers and students may want to consult
the following Internet sources:
Home page of the Australia New Zealand Therapeutic
Product Agency (ANZTPA).
Australian Prescriber home page.
Home page of MEDSAFE New Zealand.
Home page of MedicineWise, National Prescribing
Service.
Home page of the Therapeutic Goods Administration.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Barton, J. H. & Emanuel, E. J. (2005). The patient-based
pharmaceutical development process: rationale, problems and
potential reforms.
JAMA, 294,
2075–2082.
Cardinale, V. (1998). Consumers looking for more answers, clearer
directions.
Drug Topics Supplement, 142
(11), 23a.
Davies, C. A. (2004). Keeping advertisers honest—An overview
of the regulation of the advertising of medicines and medical
devices in Australia.
Australian Prescriber, 27
, 124–127.
Dempsey, J., Hillege, S. & Hill, R. (2014).
Fundamentals of
Nursing and Midwifery: A Person-centred Approach to Care
(2nd Australian and New Zealand edn). Sydney: Lippincott
Williams & Wilkins.
