All nurses and students need to have a thorough working knowledge of drugs, in addition to being able to handle and administer them safely. To this effect, they also need to understand why a drug is prescribed, exactly how it acts on the body, and why they are sometimes contraindicated or cause side-effects. This is the first user-friendly manual of its kind to demystify this often confusing but key area of clinical nursing, and to provide a sound basis for patient care. Featuring a simple yet dynamic text design, complemented by flowcharts and tables, the full range of prescription drugs are covered along with their effects on homeostasis. Features: * User-friendly presentation of material * Canadian binding for workstation appeal * Physiological explanations of how side-effects may arise * Provides details of patient care specifically associated with named drug therapies * Generic and trade names given