Dr Sue Jordan, a Senior Lecturer in Swansea University's School of Health Science, has published her third book, entitled The Prescription Drug Guide for Nurses (Open University Press, in conjunction with the Nursing Standard).

Organised by drug type and presented in an easy-to-use reference format, it outlines the implications for nursing practice associated with the administration of 20 drug groups.

Dr Jordan said: "The book is based on a successful series of 20 articles in the Nursing Standard, where a number of colleagues contributed. It is designed to help nurses and nursing students with medication administration and management, which are key nursing roles. 

"Some 4-6% of acute admissions to general hospitals in developed countries are caused by adverse drug reactions, and around half of these are preventable.

"In the book, I outline some of the ways that nurses could monitor patients for potential adverse effects of medicines, to detect and minimise these problems as soon as possible."

Dr Jordan's book has been extremely well received, with praise from colleagues at Swansea and other academic institutions.

Professor Dame June Clark of Swansea University said: "Sue Jordan has combined her deep understanding of her own discipline with her long experience of teaching nurses, to produce just the right type and level of information that nurses need, in a format that they will find relevant to their practice and easy to use. This book will be an essential reference resource for every ward bookshelf."

Professor Molly Courtney of Reading University, an expert in the field of prescription medicines said: "This book is exceedingly timely. I am certain it will be invaluable to both undergraduate and post graduate student nurses, and, also act as a continuing reference source."

Dr Jordan is currently working on securing funding for research into developing nurse-led patient monitoring directed at minimising the impact of adverse drug reactions and uncovering previously unsuspected adverse drug reactions.

She is also working on the second edition of her book Pharmacology for Midwives.

The Prescription Drug Guide for Nurses is available from April 7, priced £50.00 in hardback and £14.99 in paperback. For more information, visit the Open University Press website.