Using non-technical language, this user-friendly guide to medicines with clear headings, table and figures throughout, is designed for care workers. It covers a wide range of common topics associated with medicines and their administration and draws attention to practical issues where nurses and carers can make a real difference to the effective use of medicines. Different sections focus on basic concepts, legal and safety issues and the different body systems, so technical information is easily accessible to the care worker. At the end of each chapter, information is summarised clearly, readers are signposted to further resources and training exercises are provided, to help consolidate learning within each subject area.
About the authors
Jon Waterfield is a Principal Lecturer in Pharmacy Practice at De Montfort University. He has had articles published in a number of journals in the area of pharmacy practice and is author of the Community Pharmacy Handbook. He works regularly as a community pharmacist locum and has wide experience of offering pharmaceutical advice to care homes. Peter Rivers introduced Monitored Dosage Systems into Derbyshire residential homes in the 1980s and has experience offering pharmaceutical information and advice within the care sector. He has published widely on the subject of managing medicines in care homes and domicilary settings and is now Reader in Pharmacy Practice at De Montfort University.
Review
"It draws attention to examples of where carers and nurses can make a real difference to patient care through the effective use of medicines."
Gary Mitchell, staff nurse and PhD student, Queen’s University Belfast, from review in Nursing Standard
Scope and contents
- Medicines basics
- Prescription medicines
- Administration of medicines
- Overcoming problems with medicines
- Home remedies
- Medicines and the central nervous system: mental health, sleep, epilepsy and pain relief
- Medicines and the cardiovascular system: blood pressure and cholesterol
- Medicines and the gastrointestinal system, diet and supplements
- Endocrine system and diabetes
- Infection, infestation and antibiotics
- Respiratory system
- Skin, eyes and ears