Preface

This text was adapted by British Columbia Institute of Technology nursing faculty for general use across British Columbia and other Canadian nursing programs to support nursing students’ understanding of the complex topic of pharmacology. It was designed specifically for the entry-level undergraduate nursing student. It is also applicable to other health disciplines for use. This textbook explores pharmacological concepts by showing the connections between pathophysiology, pharmacological principles, and common medication classes. This textbook also provides learning tools to improve the students retention with quizzes, videos, concept maps, drug cards, and is organized using a concept based teaching approach. Online learning activities are provided in each chapter using the free H5P software platform.

Note that this textbook is not intended to be used as a drug reference book, but it does provide direct links to DailyMed, a trustworthy website that contains information about marketed drugs. Because information about medication is constantly changing, nurses should always consult evidence-based resources to review current recommendations before administering specific medication.