This site is specifically for Saddleback College nursing students. You will find that this site is not a comprehensive discussion of each drug or drug family. Rather, it presents pertinent drug information as if you were sitting with me in my office discussing pharmacology. This site is also updated monthly to present new FDA-approved drugs that you will not be able to find in your textbooks.
There are several ways to find the specific drug you seek, but the easiest way is to just type the name of the drug or drug family in the
Search area and a list will pop up. To view the list of drug categories, click on Drug Database.
Under related links you will find links to several sites. The first link is to Dr. Whitt's site - Assisted Learning For All (ALFA). Once you know what drugs you need to administer, you can go to this site and view video instructions on how to do it. For instance, there is a video showing you how to mix insulins. While you are there, be sure to check out the entire site - you will be amazed how much clinical information is there for you!
Thomson Healthcare is a great site to find information about almost any drug, however, it does not list any nursing implications. In addition to medications, this site has a section called "carenotes" that presents general information, in-patient care, discharge instructions, and aftercare instructions for most diseases or disorders. There are special codes for Saddleback Students to enter this program. You can find these codes on the "Database" index page.
Another great resource is Facts and Comparisons, the most respected pharmacology resource in the United States. As a student, you can register for free access. Just follow the instructions on the site when you register.
There is also a link to Epocrates. While this program is for providers such as doctors and nurse practitioners, it has a feature called "multicheck" that is very helpful to students. This program allows you to input up to 30 medications, click one button, and find out any drug-drug interactions between all of your patient's medications. There are 2 programs available: one for free and one that costs approximately $125.00 per year. The free program is not as extensive as the one for pay, but the multicheck is the same - so you do not need to purchase the program to gain the benefits of multicheck.
Lastly, I have linked to Google and Ask, which are both excellent search engines.
If you are unable to find the information you are seeking or need further clarification, please
e-mail any questions.
