26.10.11

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.

23 comments:

  1. As a new graduate LPN I could easily use a new drug guide as I move forward in my career. I've found my older model served me well, but the information changes so rapidly that my older version is already outdated! The version I had included patient teaching which served me well in clinical rotations when patients asked about their medications.

    A New LPN...from the east coast

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  2. My current drug refrence book is from 1996!
    There have been a few changes since then, I think! I'm an RN, working in a community health setting.

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  3. Not only am I a hospital RN, but I have been guilty of getting drug info off of the google, and I am always looking up something for family members (who can google as well but I guess it reassures them when I hit the button with my registered nurse hands!) And since I am commenting anyway, I found your blog while looking for good examples of RN blogs that walk the privacy line well. You do it with style! Any suggestions of other nursing / healthcare provider blogs that walk that line well?

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  4. Because I can never remember all those pesky drug dosages and interactions and I need to be able to look them up in a shiny pink and brand new drug handbook so I don't inadvertently kill a patient! My current drug book is about three years old... older than most of my patients! Thank you school nurse blog for the opportunity to win a new drug book!

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  5. I have been a nurse for 8 1/2 years in icu and just took the school nurse position at my children's school in August. The drug guide I found in the clinic is at least 15 years old! Love your blog and would love to win a new drug book!

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  6. Hi there!
    I am a part time school nurse, and an RN. The 3 nurses at our school are all new this year, and there is NO drug book in our office! Ugh. I have a 2010 book at home, but since I'm only there twice a week, I don't want my book walking off.... We could really use one specifically for the nurses' office... And, I LOVE your blog! I was so excited to find it last spring when I was job hunting. I really love school nursing, and its great to find others who do too, and write so well about it! Thanks for all your hard work!!

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  7. I'm (almost) a semester away from graduating and sitting for NCLEX. Would love a new drug guide to replace my 2 editions old copy of Davis's.

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  8. I would like the new drug book because I dont have one. I am new to the nursing program, so I thought it would be in my best interest and the patients as well to start learning how each drug interacts and counteracts in the body.

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  9. I am a second block nursing student, I have an old one, and I am finding that it's not working quite well, things have changed over the years - so when I look up my drugs I need to double check on the internet...that's quite a pain. I could really use a new, updated book.

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  10. Patricia Shea-Samul27/10/11 22:08

    I am an agency nurse. I work as an RN supervisor and go to a different LTC daily. Many of the places I go to do not provide Nursing drug handbooks to their units or the copies available are often at least 5 years old. Because I am an agency nurse, I am not usually familiar with the patients. I often have to look up the newer drugs they have been subscribed and do not wish to make errors. Since I am the supervisor I am usually consulted when a patient is having a problem so accuracy and speed are important issues. I would love to have the latest and best drug handbook of my own. Thank you so much for having this contest.

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  11. I have worked in the medical field I take care of my Grandmother's and I could use an updated drug guide to monitor the drugs they are on and interactions etc...Thank you very much it would help me alot! Taking care of two Grandmother's is sometimes hard to keep track of it all my old guide has helped in the past from a mishap in drug interactions but it is very outdated..Please help

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  12. NurseEllen28/10/11 04:23

    I have no internet in my office, and my drug book is from when I graduated nursing school. In 1992. Help! Thanks ;)

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  13. As a responsible EMT and medical transcriptionist, I hate to admit that I use Google as my resource while transcribing. My copy is from 1995, I believe...I've moved and cannot find it :(

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  14. As a New RN, I am working at an urgent care. Even though we don't hand out many medications in the office, I have lots of questions over drugs, reactions, etc. Bad thing is...there isn't a drug reference guide in the office and like others... have resorted to Google Search :/

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  15. I am a CMA & Would love a drug book of my very own..LOL so I dont have to try to chase one down every time I need to look something up.My emai is toots25@gmail.com

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  16. Lee Walden29/10/11 15:41

    Throughout my life, several employees and friends have given me great satisfaction in allowing me to guide them and connect them to beneficial resources, such as community organizations and employee support foundations. I have been overjoyed to see the positive outcomes and life changes this caring outlook has given them. It is in this vein of compassionate servitude that I decided nursing provided a more direct and effective connection to people through its patient relationship approach.
    My end goal is to become a Nurse Practitioner, although my definitive choice of specialty is yet to be determined. I have received superior guidance from faculty and the medical community towards certain areas, however, including Psychology, Pediatrics, Cardiology, or possibly Family Practice. I have developed an immense interest in mental health, observing how counseling has been so crucial along with pharmaceutical intervention in positively influencing individual’s healthy lifestyles and coping with life’s experiences. I also, though, have deep-rooted connections to caring for children, having two grandchildren of my own whom I have counseled, mended, and guided. Therefore, Pediatrics is certainly of great interest. Cardiology nursing had not even occurred to me, until a respected doctor mentioned how effective and crucial the Nurse Practitioners in the Little Rock Cardiology Clinic are in life-changing interventional medicine. My greatest career lean currently is giving back and strengthening nursing’s future as a Nurse Educator while practicing as a Nurse Practitioner and Psychological Counselor. Through this career path, I can build a relationship of primary caregiver to the most diverse patient population, promoting their physical, mental, and emotional health through my expertise and referrals to specialty experts.
    I am extremely committed to my career pursuit in nursing. After losing my job in April last year, I found myself in the unique position of not having the time challenge of a job to my studies through grants, loans, and Unemployment Compensation, allowing me to devote all the time necessary to succeed. The Arkansas Department of Workforce Services allowed me to continue my new training without job search requirements and led me to believe I would qualify for the workforce-training program for further subsidy after Unemployment Funds were exhausted. Thus far, my GPA has proven the success of my preparation, as well as my conviction and determination to achieve my goal. The workforce-training program lacks the funding to consider my program application, rendering me unable to cover living expenses. I find myself traumatized by the reality of possibly losing reach of my dream. Now is not the time to give up, so it is with humility and respect that I request any financial assistance available in order to continue in my educational pursuit of nursing and service to our community. A free copy of the Nursing 2012 Drug Handbook would prove invaluable in my clinical rotations as well as my future career of care.

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  17. I learned about this drug book from by roller coast buddy who is deployed in Afghanistan right now. I will be finishing school in May and would love to add this book to my toolbox as I re-enter the Army. My friend is a PA and at the time she did not have a nurse at her location to reconstitute meds so she had to teach herself using this book.

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  18. I would love to have a copy of this book I have many friends who are in the nursing field and I am going into the medical field and truly think that this book would come in handy in helping me advance toward my current career choice. I really hope that you pick me because being a college student and mother and living on disability there is just not much money for books such as these. Thanks so much Kimberly

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  19. I posted the above comment and my e mail is kimberlysr@sbcglobal.net I tried to use my aim and it did not work. I have many friends who are in the nursing field and I am going into the medical field and truly think that this book would come in handy in helping me advance toward my current career choice. I really hope that you pick me because being a college student and mother and living on disability there is just not much money for books such as these. Thanks so much Kimberly

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  20. A year ago this month I started as a CMA in a doctor's office for the very first time ever and within a month I had to step up to the plate and take on all of the nursing tasks one would be responsible for in a small PCP office. I had some help from the Doctor and the receptionist but for the most part I had to teach myself and learn quick due to a sudden decrease in employees. We have the 2011 edition and it has become one of my favorite tools as a nurse. I would be lost in the world of drugs if it weren't for my ability to reference the book quickly and find the information I need. The 2012 edition would be a great resource to me and I would very much appreciate winning a copy being that I can't afford to buy it at this time since my husband has been laid off from his job. Thank you for your consideration!

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  21. I am an allergy nurse and mine is outdated. I google alot. Also, with my daughter having cancer I look up her medicines alot and make sure this in no interactions.

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  22. I have been nursing for 32 years now mostly doing geriatric in a VA clinic and do use medline and other online sources but I still would rather just go to my drugbook and open it and look it up. Would love to win this one.
    Pam m

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  23. Pam M - Congratulations - you are the winner! Contact me (link on left hand of page) to claim your prize. :)

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