Читать книгу Fundamentals of Pharmacology - Группа авторов - Страница 40

The world of medications is vast and learning about them can be daunting for all nursing and healthcare students (as well as registered professionals). The people you care for may have extensive lists of medications you need to be able to review, administer, and consider interactions and monitor the effects of these.

Professional bodies have specific standards of practice in relation to medicines and pharmacological knowledge and this will relate to the practitioner's role. The Nursing and Midwifery (NMC) Code (NMC 2018a) states in Standard 18 that nurses and nursing associates must

Advise on, prescribe, supply, dispense or administer medicines within the limits of your training and competence, the law, our guidance and other relevant policies, guidance and regulations.

(Nursing and Midwifery Council, 2018a)

Further guidance is issued for nursing associates. The NMC stipulates the requirement for nursing associates: as per Section 3:16 of their standards of proficiency, they must:

demonstrate the ability to recognise the effects of medicines, allergies, drug sensitivity, side effects, contraindications and adverse reactions.

(Nursing and Midwifery Council, 2018b)

In order to fulfil these requirements, healthcare professionals must have a level of pharmaceutical knowledge and an awareness of how to and where to find appropriate information to support practice. In a sea of new products and complex regimens, where can you turn for up‐to‐date, clear and concise information to guide your practice? There are numerous guides, websites, texts and resources that are readily available. Ensuring a robust and evidence‐based selection of these is paramount, but the choice is also personal. Some are web based, some print, and a new evolution of healthcare apps for professionals means that there is a selection for all user preferences.

This chapter aims to introduce you to using pharmaceutical and prescribing reference guides with a specific focus on the BNF and other pharmaceutical reference guides. These guides are vital and valuable resources to draw upon to ensure safe, accountable and evidence‐based care that is matched to the needs and wishes of the people you care for.