Book excerpt: Essential fully referenced guide to safe medicines administration when dealing with the adult patient, enabling the student and practitioner to make informed and evidence based decisions regarding medicine administration. Complements the guidance provided by the BNF and reflects latest thinking on medicines optimization. Assists communication and concordance between healthcare professional and patient. Explains drug calculations and invaluable for students revising for pre-registration medicines management assessment. Key Contents include Definitions and symbols - SI Units - pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics - Key principles by route of administration - Record keeping and what to look for in a prescription or prescription chart - Communication with the patient - Assessment for safe medicines management - Pain assessment and management - Tips for getting the most out of the BNF - Drug classes - Drug Calculations - Adverse drug reactions and incident reporting - Drug related emergencies - Index of drug names - Abbreviations