Pharmacology for Nurses: A Pathophysiological Approach, Canadian Edition, 4th edition

Published by Pearson Canada (December 1, 2023) © 2025
  • Michael P. Adams
  • Leland Norman Holland
  • Carol Quam Urban
  • Mohamed El-Hussein
  • Joseph Osuji

Title overview

For courses in pharmacology.

A holistic approach to pharmacology essentials

When students are asked which subject in their nursing program is the most challenging, pharmacology and pathophysiology always appear near the top of the list. The study of pharmacology demands that students apply knowledge from a wide variety of the natural and applied sciences. The successful prediction of drug action requires a thorough knowledge of anatomy, physiology, chemistry, and pathology, as well as knowledge of the social sciences of psychology and sociology. Current knowledge of drug actions, mechanisms, interactions, and legislation is mandatory for nurses to provide safe and effective care to their clients in all healthcare settings.

Pharmacology for Nurses: A Pathophysiologic Approach simplifies pharmacology by linking it tightly to therapeutic goals. Instead of learning about drugs in isolation, students approach them by body systems and diseases in order to draw connections between A&P, diseases, and drug interventions. Engaging features and exercises relate pharmacology to nursing care, while discussion of alternative therapies and cultural and lifespan considerations give further context for clinical decisions. 

Hallmark features of this title

  • The number of drugs available in clinical practice is staggering. To facilitate learning, we use prototype drugs and provide detailed introductions to the one or two most representative drugs in each classification. Students are less intimidated when they can focus their learning on one representative drug in each class. Prototype Drug boxes clearly describe these important medications. Within these boxes, the actions and uses of the drug are succinctly presented, including administration alerts, and specific nursing responsibilities that highlight vital information related to the administration of that drug and treatment of overdose and antidotes when known.
  • This text features a focused approach to the nursing process, which allows students to quickly find the content that is essential for safe and effective drug therapy. Nursing Considerations sections appear within the discussion of each drug class. These sections discuss the major needs of the client, including general assessments, interventions, and client teaching for the class of drugs.
  • Nursing Process Focus charts provide a succinct, easy-to-read view of the most commonly prescribed drug classes for the disease. Need-to-know nursing actions are presented in a format that reflects the “flow” of the nursing process: nursing assessment, pattern identification and potential nursing diagnoses, planning, interventions, client education and discharge planning, and evaluation. 

New and updated features of this title

  • As the world shifts to a greater reliance on digital media, it is appropriate that this resource evolves as well. This Fourth Canadian Edition is the first fully digital version of Pharmacology for Nurses: A Pathophysiological Approach. Instructors and students will find that, although the medium has changed, the content is fully consistent with prior editions.
  • Holistic Pharmacology. Our new edition examines pharmacology from a holistic perspective. The Special Considerations and Lifespan Considerations features present pharmacology and nursing issues related to cultural, ethnic, age, gender, and psychosocial aspects. These features remind students that a drug's efficacy is affected as much by its pharmacokinetics as by the client's uniqueness. Herb-drug interactions are also included within the Prototype Drug boxes when relevant. Non-pharmacological methods for managing many diseases, including lifestyle and dietary modifications, are also integrated into the chapters.
  • Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent the transmission of the virus. Given the impact of the COVID pandemic on individuals and society, and in an attempt to mitigate the incidence of infections with the COVID-19 virus, many laboratories embarked on the process of creating an effective vaccine in a timely manner. As such, we have included in this version all the approved vaccines manufactured by different pharmaceutical companies based on different technologies.
  • The 2020 Canadian Cardiovascular Society Guidelines for the Management of Heart Failure and the 2021 CCS/CHFS Heart Failure Guidelines Update: Defining a New Pharmacologic Standard of Care for Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction were used to add updated content to Chapter 54.

Key features

Important Digital Assets in MyLab Nursing

  • Dynamic Study Modules. Using a highly personalized, algorithmically driven process, Dynamic Study Modules continuously assess student performance and provide additional practice in the areas where they struggle the most. Each Dynamic Study Module, accessed by computer, smartphone or tablet, promotes fast learning and long-term retention. 
  • Learning Catalytics. Learning Catalytics™ allows students to use any web-enabled device to participate in-class. Instructors can access a library of prebuilt questions or construct questions on their own to keep students engaged in the lecture. Learning Catalytics can be assigned to students synchronously or asynchronously and used for individual or group work. It can also place students in discussion groups based on their responses and location, regardless of class size. 
  • NextGen NCLEX®-style Questions. MyLab Nursing now includes new Next Generation NCLEX style practice assessment that reflects the Canadian NextGen NCLEX exam. This new assessment includes new auto-graded, case-based questions that reflect the structure, question types, and scoring of the Next Generation NCLEX exam. Next Generation (NextGen) NCLEX style practice assessment can be assigned to students by instructors for grades or can be used in self-study mode by students. 

Table of contents

  1. Introduction to Pharmacology and Drug Regulations in Canada
  2. Drug Classes and Schedules in Canada
  3. Pharmacokinetics
  4. Pharmacodynamics
  5. The Nursing Process in Pharmacology
  6. Life Span Considerations in Pharmacology
  7. Individual, Psychosocial, and Cultural Influences on Drug Responses
  8. Drug Effects, Adverse Reactions, and Interactions
  9. Principles of Drug Administration
  10. Medication Incidents and Risk Reduction
  11. Complementary and Alternative Therapies and Their Roles in Pharmacotherapy in Canada
  12. Brief Review of the Autonomic Nervous System and Neurotransmitters
  13. Pharmacotherapy with Cholinergic Agonists and Antagonists
  14. Pharmacotherapy with Adrenergic Agonists and Antagonists
  15. Brief Review of the Central Nervous System
  16. Pharmacotherapy of Anxiety and Sleep Disorders
  17. Pharmacotherapy of Emotional and Mood Disorders
  18. Central Nervous System Stimulants and Pharmacotherapy of Attention Deficit and Hyperactive Disorders
  19. Pharmacotherapy of Psychoses
  20. Pharmacotherapy of Degenerative Diseases of the Nervous System
  21. Pharmacotherapy of Seizures
  22. Pharmacotherapy of Muscle Spasms and Spasticity
  23. Pharmacotherapy of Pain and Migraine
  24. Pharmacology of Local and General Anesthesia
  25. Pharmacotherapy in Substances of Abuse and Addictions
  26. Brief Review of the Endocrine System
  27. Pharmacotherapy of the Hypothalamic and Pituitary Disorders
  28. Pharmacotherapy of Diabetes Mellitus
  29. Pharmacotherapy of Thyroid and Parathyroid Disorders
  30. Corticosteroids and Pharmacotherapy of Adrenal Disorders
  31. Pharmacotherapy of disorders of the Female Reproductive System
  32. Pharmacotherapy of Disorders of the Male Reproductive System
  33. Brief Review of the Gastro-Intestinal System
  34. Pharmacotherapy of Peptic Ulcer Disease
  35. Pharmacotherapy of Bowel Disorders and Other Gastro-Intestinal Alterations
  36. Pharmacotherapy of Obesity and Weight Management
  37. Pharmacotherapy of Nutritional Disorders
  38. Pharmacotherapy of Asthma, Common Cold, and Other Pulmonary Disorders
  39. Brief Review of Body Defences and the Immune System
  40. Pharmacotherapy with Immunostimulants and Immunosuppressants
  41. Pharmacotherapy of Immune System Modulation and Immunization
  42. Pharmacotherapy of Inflammation, Fever, and Allergies
  43. Basic principles of Anti-Infective Pharmacotherapy
  44. Pharmacotherapy of Bacterial Infections
  45. Pharmacotherapy of Fungal, Protozoan, and Helminthic Infections
  46. Pharmacotherapy of Non-HIV Viral Infections
  47. Pharmacotherapy of HIV-AIDS
  48. Review of the Cardiovascular System
  49. Pharmacotherapy of Lipid Disorders
  50. Pharmacotherapy of Angina Pectoris, Myocardial Infarction, and Cerebrovascular Accident
  51. Pharmacotherapy of Hypertension
  52. Diuretic Therapy and Pharmacotherapy of Renal Failure
  53. Pharmacotherapy of Fluid and Electrolyte Imbalances and Acid-Base Disorders
  54. Pharmacotherapy of Heart Failure
  55. Pharmacotherapy of Dysrhythmias
  56. Pharmacotherapy of Coagulation Disorders
  57. Pharmacotherapy of Hematopoietic Disorders
  58. Pharmacotherapy of Shock
  59. Basic Principle of Anti-Neoplastic Therapy
  60. Pharmacotherapy of Neoplasia
  61. Pharmacotherapy of Bone and Joint Disorders
  62. Pharmacotherapy of Dermatologic Disorders
  63. Pharmacotherapy of Eye and Ear Disorders
  64. Toxicology, Bioterrorism, and Emergency Preparedness

Author bios

Michael Patrick Adams, PhD, is an accomplished educator, author, and national speaker. The National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development in Austin, Texas, named Dr. Adams a Master Teacher. He has published two other textbooks with Pearson Publishing: Core Concepts in Pharmacology and Pharmacology: Connections to Nursing Practice.

Dr. Adams obtained his master's degree in pharmacology from Michigan State University and his doctorate in education from the University of South Florida. Dr. Adams was on the faculty of Lansing Community College and St. Petersburg College, and served as Dean of Health Professions at Pasco-Hernando State College for 15 years. He is currently Adjunct Professor of Biological Sciences at Pasco-Hernando State College and Hillsborough Community College.

Carol Quam Urban, PhD, RN, Associate Professor, is Director of the School of Nursing and Associate Dean for Practice and Strategic Initiatives in the College of Health and Human Services at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. She has been on the faculty at Mason and considers the study of pharmacology to be a course that truly integrates nursing knowledge, skills, and interdisciplinary teamwork. She credits her students, past and present, for providing a never-ending source of real-world stories that make learning about pharmacology enjoyable in class. She has also published the Pearson textbook Pharmacology: Connections to Nursing Practice with Dr. Adams.

Mohamed Toufic El-Hussein, RN, BSN, MSN, PhD, NP, is an Associate Professor of Nursing in the Department of Health, Community & Education at Mount Royal University in Calgary. Dr. El-Hussein is a recipient of the distinguished teaching faculty award in the Bachelor of Nursing program at Mount Royal University, School of Nursing & Midwifery. Dr. El Hussein is also an adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Calgary in the faculty of Nursing.

He has initiated and implemented several innovative teaching approaches that have contributed immensely to the critical thinking, analytical, and clinical skills of nursing students. Dr. El-Hussein's passion for teaching emerged while working as a Registered Nurse in critical care settings, where he was selected to facilitate and deliver lectures in the Department of In-Service Education at different hospitals. He completed his Master's in Critical Care and Trauma at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, and earned a PhD in Nursing from the University of Calgary then enrolled in the post Masters Nurse Practitioner (NP) program at the university of Calgary and earned his NP diploma. Currently Dr. El Hussein practices as Acute Care Nurse Practitioner—Medical Cardiology Coronary Care Unit at Rockyview General Hospital. His research program focuses on clinical reasoning in nursing practice and the use of innovative teaching strategies to enhance critical thinking among nursing students. Dr. El-Hussein has authored several publications and conference presentations that discuss clinical reasoning processes and highlight innovative teaching strategies designed to bridge the theory-practice gap in nursing and to help students deconstruct and assimilate complex concepts.

Joseph Chinyere Osuji, RN, BScN, MN, PhD, is an Associate Professor at the School of Nursing & Midwifery, Mount Royal University, Calgary. He is a Carnegie scholar and holds a visiting scholar appointment with the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. His current teaching assignments are Medical-Surgical Nursing, Pharmacology, Pathophysiology, Community Health, Chronic Disease Management and Advanced Biostatistics. Dr. Osuji has published widely, has authored, and contributed chapters on Medical/Surgical Nursing, Research Methods, Pharmacology, and Chronic Disease Management. Dr. Osuji has received major fellowship awards, research nominations and academic awards for his work. He is interested in research questions that deal with the social determinants of health, homelessness, social justice and poverty, soft computing modelling and informatics, teaching and learning processes in students, clinical reasoning among Registered Nurses and nursing workforce turnover and retention determinants. He has been published in several peer-reviewed journals and has presented on related topics in conferences, both locally and internationally. Dr. Osuji is the proud husband of Mrs. Genevieve Osuji and the father of three girls and two boys.

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