Free drugs!

Okay, not really. But free information about drugs, really, in the form of a drug reference handbook: keep reading and enter to win a copy! Wolters Kluwer Health, the publishers of a drug handbook reference that I'm sure many are familiar with - past editions, if not this one - sent me a copy so I could step up on my pedestal that is this blog and write about it: Nursing2012 Drug Handbook.

It's been awhile since I've had my hands on an up-to-date drug book, and oh what fun it has been flipping through this one! Besides its bright shiny pink cover, which is a plus in any messy office, the inside is pages and pages of readable text on every drug I could think of. For every drug, there is complete information including adverse reactions and interactions, just as you'd expect in a reliable drug handbook. Equally important as the content is the fact that this is a totally readable text: a pronunciation guide for those weird looking drugs, black box warnings easily found, and, a pet peeve of mine solved, pages that are not so thin you can see right through them. Drugs are arranged alphabetically, which is my preferred way to find them, but is not for everyone. In the middle of the book is a small "Photoguide to tablets and capsules." It's not something I think I could use easily, but if you're double checking you're holding the right drug - and it's one of the 396 tablets represented in the pictures - it could be useful. As a nurse who spends most of my time in front of a computer, the most handy part of this book isn't in the actual book; it's the subscription to Lippincott's Nursing Drug Advisor that can be found online. A free one year subscription is included with the purchase, and, let's face it, Google should not be your source for drug information. The online drug advisor includes all the information in the book, is searchable, and you can limit the information you are looking for (e.g. adverse reactions), so as to not be overwhelmed. All in all, it's no wonder that this is the bestselling drug handbook for nurses.

Also, if you're wondering why the pink little bookmark ribbon, it's because the publishers are donating a portion toward breast cancer research via Susan G. Komen for the Cure. And if you're interested in updating your reference bookshelf with this book, you can buy it here, for 20% off.

And finally, if you've made it this far and want to be rewarded, here's your chance: leave a comment with how you can use a drug reference book in your life and you will be entered in to win a free copy for yourself! Contest closes October 31st at midnight EST; a winner will be chosen by a random number generator. I'll announce the winner then, and you'll need to contact me with how to claim your prize - no claim within 24 hours and it'll go to the next person by lottery, so be sure to check back on November 1st! One entry per person, and karma bites, so no cheating please.


Disclaimer: I received a free copy of Nursing2012 Drug Handbook from Wolters Kluwer Health for review; however this review is entirely my own. You can make friends with them yourself here or find them here.