Best Nursing Pharmacology Books of 2025

Wilson Cook Avatar
Wilson Cook
Last Updated: Jan 13, 2025

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Nursing pharmacology books are essential resources for nursing students and practicing nurses. These books provide comprehensive information on medications, their actions, side effects, and interactions. They also cover pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, drug administration, and patient education. Some popular nursing pharmacology books include "Pharmacology for Nurses: A Pathophysiologic Approach" by Michael Patrick Adams and Norman Holland, "Nursing Pharmacology Made Incredibly Easy!" by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, and "Pharmacology and the Nursing Process" by Linda Lane Lilley. These books are designed to help nurses develop a solid foundation in pharmacology, which is crucial for safe and effective patient care.

At a Glance: Our Top Picks

Nursing2025-2026 Drug Handbook (Nursing Drug Handbooks) Cover #TOP 1
Nursing2025-2026 Drug Handbook (Nursing Drug Handbooks)
ftb score rating icon 9.9
Pharmacology Cover #TOP 2
Pharmacology
ftb score rating icon 9.8
Pharmacology and the Nursing Process Cover #TOP 3
Pharmacology and the Nursing Process
ftb score rating icon 9.6

Top 10 Nursing Pharmacology Books

#TOP 1

Nursing2025-2026 Drug Handbook (Nursing Drug Handbooks)

Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
May 10, 2024
Nursing2025-2026 Drug Handbook (Nursing Drug Handbooks) Cover
Nursing2025-2026 Drug Handbook (Nursing Drug Handbooks)

The Nursing2025-2026 Drug Handbook is an essential resource for nurses and clinicians, offering comprehensive, up-to-date information on over 3,600 medications. This 45th edition features a user-friendly A-Z format, with newly approved drugs and thousands of clinical updates, including dosages, warnings, and patient education. Its special focus on U.S. and Canadian drug safety issues sets it apart. Overall, this handbook is invaluable for healthcare professionals, providing not only detailed drug information but also access to additional resources that enhance medication safety and awareness.

#TOP 2

Pharmacology

McCuistion PhD MSN RN, Linda E.
Vuljoin DiMaggio MSN RN, Kathleen
Winton PhD MSN RN, Mary B.
Yeager PhD MSN RN, Jennifer J.
Saunders
Jan 19, 2022

This nursing pharmacology book, Pharmacology: A Patient-Centered Nursing Process Approach, 11th Edition, is a comprehensive guide to understanding the principles of pharmacology and safe drug administration. Written by a team of nursing experts led by Linda McCuistion, this book uses drug prototypes to provide key information about dosage, side effects, interactions, and more. The book also features critical thinking case studies, learning resources, and NCLEX® study questions to help prepare nursing students for the exam. Overall, this book is a valuable resource for any nursing student or professional seeking to enhance their pharmacology knowledge and improve patient care.

#TOP 3

Pharmacology and the Nursing Process

Lilley RN PhD, Linda Lane
Collins PharmD BCGP, Shelly Rainforth
Snyder MSN RN MEDSURG-BC, Julie S.
Mosby
May 23, 2022
Pharmacology and the Nursing Process Cover
Pharmacology and the Nursing Process

Pharmacology and the Nursing Process, 10th Edition, offers essential pharmacological knowledge and skills for safe medication administration. Written by experts Linda Lane Lilley, Shelly Rainforth Collins, and Julie S. Snyder, this textbook emphasizes the nursing process and prioritization, integrating real-life scenarios and medication error prevention tips throughout its content. The book's structured approach to drug classes, complete with full-color illustrations, enhances comprehension of complex concepts. Overall, this edition stands out for its practical application and clear presentation, making it an invaluable resource for nursing students and professionals alike.

#TOP 4

Karch’s Focus on Nursing Pharmacology

Tucker, Rebecca
Jan 18, 2023
Karch’s Focus on Nursing Pharmacology Cover
Karch’s Focus on Nursing Pharmacology

Karch’s Focus on Nursing Pharmacology, 9th Edition, is designed to equip nursing students with the essential principles of drug therapy necessary for NCLEX® success and effective clinical practice. Author Rebecca Tucker enhances Amy M. Karch’s streamlined approach, incorporating vital knowledge from physiology and chemistry while emphasizing critical thinking and patient communication. This edition features new chapters on vitamins and minerals, ear medications, and updated coverage on substance use, making it a comprehensive resource. Overall, this book stands out for its engaging learning features and its commitment to keeping students informed about the latest developments in pharmacology.

#TOP 5

2025 Lippincott Pocket Drug Guide for Nurses

TUCKER, REBECCA
Nov 19, 2024
2025 Lippincott Pocket Drug Guide for Nurses Cover
2025 Lippincott Pocket Drug Guide for Nurses

The 2025 Lippincott Pocket Drug Guide for Nurses is an essential resource for healthcare professionals, offering concise information on over 4,100 medications. Organized in an easy-to-navigate A-to-Z format, it includes details on newly approved drugs, dietary supplements, and comprehensive appendices covering various therapeutic categories. The guide's user-friendly layout, complete with alerts for new drugs and boxed warnings, enhances its practicality for quick reference.

#TOP 6

Nursing Pharmacology

Open RN
XanEdu Publishing Inc
Aug 7, 2020
Nursing Pharmacology Cover
Nursing Pharmacology

'Nursing Pharmacology' serves as a comprehensive guide to the principles of pharmacology, focusing on drug classifications and their physiological effects. It covers essential modules that integrate the nursing process with medication management across various systems, ensuring alignment with Wisconsin's nursing curriculum and NCLEX test plans. The textbook stands out due to its evidence-based approach, extensive reviews by national experts, and promotion of digital literacy through reputable source hyperlinks. Overall, this resource is invaluable for entry-level nursing students, offering a thorough understanding of pharmacology while emphasizing ethical and cultural considerations in medication administration.

#TOP 7

Lehne's Pharmacology for Nursing Care

Burchum DNSc FNP-BC CNE, Jacqueline Rosenjack
Rosenthal DNP RN ACNP-BC FAANP, Laura D.
Elsevier
Feb 12, 2024
Lehne's Pharmacology for Nursing Care Cover
Lehne's Pharmacology for Nursing Care

Lehne's Pharmacology for Nursing Care, 12th Edition, offers an engaging approach to mastering pharmacology essential for nursing practice. Written by esteemed educators Jacqueline Rosenjack Burchum and Laura D. Rosenthal, this text simplifies complex concepts through a focus on prototype drugs, emphasizing understanding over rote memorization. Unique features like Safety Alerts and Special Interest Topic boxes enhance the learning experience by connecting pharmacology with real-world nursing implications. Overall, this book stands out for its clear writing style and its commitment to making pharmacology both understandable and enjoyable for nursing students.

#TOP 8

Pharmacology and the Nursing Process

Lilley RN PhD, Linda Lane
Collins PharmD BCGP, Shelly Rainforth
Snyder MSN RN MEDSURG-BC, Julie S.
Mosby
Feb 11, 2019
Pharmacology and the Nursing Process Cover
Pharmacology and the Nursing Process

"Pharmacology and the Nursing Process" is an essential resource for nursing students, blending pharmacology with effective nursing strategies. The 9th Edition offers updated drug content, full-color illustrations, and a focus on prioritization within the nursing process, enabling readers to administer medications safely and effectively. Unique features like QSEN competencies and a comprehensive Photo Atlas enhance the learning experience. Overall, this book stands out for its clarity, practical approach, and student-friendly design, making it a must-have for anyone pursuing a career in nursing pharmacology.

#TOP 9

Nursing Pharmacology: a QuickStudy Laminated Reference Guide (QuickStudy Academic)

BarCharts Inc.
QuickStudy Reference Guides
May 31, 2011
Nursing Pharmacology: a QuickStudy Laminated Reference Guide (QuickStudy Academic) Cover
Nursing Pharmacology: a QuickStudy Laminated Reference Guide (QuickStudy Academic)

Nursing Pharmacology: a QuickStudy Laminated Reference Guide is an essential resource for nursing students and practicing nurses alike. This 3-panel guide offers color-coded sections that provide clear and concise information on various medical drugs, their applications, administration methods, and potential side effects. Its fluff-free design makes it an invaluable tool for quick reference in high-pressure situations.

140 Must Know Meds: Demolish Nursing Pharmacology (Nursing Clinical Essentials)

Haws, Jon
CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Feb 18, 2015
140 Must Know Meds: Demolish Nursing Pharmacology (Nursing Clinical Essentials) Cover
140 Must Know Meds: Demolish Nursing Pharmacology (Nursing Clinical Essentials)

If you're a nursing student struggling with pharmacology, "140 Must Know Meds: Demolish Nursing Pharmacology" is the book for you. This book focuses on the most commonly tested and prescribed medications, providing critical points to know about them. The flashcard format and detailed outlines make it easy to understand and differentiate between difficult medications. With hundreds of pages of vital facts, this book takes the guesswork out of your studies and allows you to focus on what you need to know. Overall, this book is an essential tool for nursing students who want to ace their pharmacology courses and feel confident when distributing medications.

Buying Guide Image

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What books do pharmacology use?

Rang & Dale's Pharmacology (Ninth Edition) Helping medical students for over 25 years, Rang and Dale's Pharmacology covers the basics of this subject. Even practicing professionals can use the book to refresh what they already know.

Editor's Notes

During our nursing pharmacology book research, we found 16 nursing pharmacology book products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 23,117 customer reviews through our big data system to write the nursing pharmacology books list. We found that most customers choose nursing pharmacology books with an average price of $52.46.

Written by
Wilson Cook Avatar

Wilson Cook is a talented writer who has an MFA in creative writing from Williams College and has published more than 50 books acquired by hundreds of thousands of people from various countries by now. He is an inveterate reading lover as he has read a vast amount of books since childhood.