Offering more than 1,500 of the latest and most commonly prescribed, FDA-approved drugs, the 2009 PDR Nurse's Drug Handbook continues to be an essential resource for nursing students, practicing nurses, and other health care professionals. Updated annually, the guide provides the most current data on NEW indications, dosages, Black Box Warnings, contraindications, and the most significant nursing considerations. Additionally, you will find a variety of reference tables and charts, such as those covering dosing comparisons within drug classes, immunization charts for children and adults, most common laboratory test values, and many more! Highlighting prevention of medication errors and clinical accountability like no other drug resource, the 2009 PDR Nurse's Drug Handbook puts up-to-the-minute FDA-approved prescribing information at the reader's fingertips. The guide's comprehensive content includes: * drugs recently approved by the FDA as well as new indications for established drugs * revised and new administration routes (dosage forms) * mechanism by which the drug achieves its therapeutic effect and pharmacokinetics parameters * newly identified side effects and drug interactions * guidelines for administration of drugs, including changes in dosing and use recommendations * considerations for monitoring disease progression and efficacy of therapy * recommendations for teaching the patient and family about important aspects of drug therapy * nursing considerations, including assessment and monitoring of patient therapy Readers can quickly and easily reference critical data on patient medication. The book features: * Chapter 1: Individual drug monographs in alphabetical order by generic name. * Chapter 2: General information on important therapeutic or chemical classes of drugs (drug classes are listed alphabetically). * Visual Identification Guide: A color insert of drug products organized alphabetically by generic name, featuring more than 300 photographs of tablets, capsules, and other solid dosage forms. * Appendices: Annually revised information to assist in administering drugs and monitoring drug therapy. Key tables and charts of therapy-specific drugs, plus valuable lists of drugs, including those that are excreted in breast milk, that should not be crushed, or that may cause photosensitivity, are provided.