Book excerpt: With the important part played by nurses in the administration of drugs and in recording their effects, an understanding of pharmacology and its application to patient care is an integral part of pre-and post-registration nurse education. The 17th edition of this comprehensive U.K. pharmacology book builds on the outstandingly successful formula of previous editions. It explores the principles underlying drug usage and gives an up-to-date account of the action and use of drugs in the treatments and prevention of disease. The U.K.'s 17th edition brings the text fully up to date with developments in clinical pharmacology and current trends in clinical practice.