Wed 13 September 2023
Biggest ever ‘yellow book’ heading to nurses across the country
The largest ever Australian Injectable Drugs Handbook (AIDH) has been released by the Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia (SHPA), with the new ninth edition of the essential frontline nursing resource featuring more than 500 medicines, including 60 new entries, and paediatric information extended to cover 240 monographs, including intramuscular (IM) and subcutaneous routes for over 100 medicines.
Now available through the SHPA Bookshop, the indispensable ‘yellow book’ has been comprehensively updated and now includes eye-catching identification of potentially hazardous medicines and time-critical medicines.
SHPA Vice President Dr Kate O’Hara says AIDH is an essential frontline resource ensuring patient safety and quality care.
‘AIDH provides nurses and health professionals with respected, evidence-based information in a comprehensive one-stop reference, assisting with best clinical practice and productivity.
‘We’re thrilled to release the new edition with extensive improvements, ensuring up-to-date and vital content on more than 500 injectable medicines is easier than ever to find, understand and action.’
Kelli Wain, CCRN, Deputy, Self Directed Learning Lab Manager and Lecturer, Bachelor of Nursing and Midwifery at Victoria University – and member of the AIDH9 Editorial Committee – says many of the improvements have been made with nurses and midwives in mind.
‘AIDH is an integral resource utilised by nurses multiple times a day to safely prepare and administer medicines. It is embedded at every level of education and part of the Registered nurse standards for practice, Midwife standards for practice and the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards.
‘Nurses are often so busy and we rely on our printed copies to make rapid, safe care decisions.
‘New changes will make this ever easier, such as bright new icons identifying medicines as cytotoxic or cancer therapy – important for managing potentially hazardous medicines and occupational risk – in addition to tall and short lettering and monograph alphabetisation.
‘Among nurses AIDH is referred to as the "yellow bible" which demonstrates just how valuable this resource is in our profession.
To help ensure copies of AIDH9 are readily available in every hospital ward around the country, SHPA is offering bulk purchase discounts in addition to member pricing. New information from AIDH9 will automatically update through SHPA’s online product partners Medical Director and MIMS.
WHAT ELSE IS NEW IN AIDH9?
New section on time-critical medicines to assist in identifying those medicines where a delay of more than 30 minutes from the scheduled administration time may cause patient harm.
Fully revised section on potentially hazardous medicines and occupational risk. Medicines can now be quickly and easily identified as cytotoxic or cancer therapy.
• Expanded range of imported medicine monographs to assist with increased demand in a time of drug shortages. With a total of 55 imported medicine monographs, 24 are new to the ninth edition.
• Updated allergy warnings for penicillins, cephalosporins and carbapenems.
• CoPAT information updated and extended to now include stability information for 23 antibiotics
• Simplified guide to infusion rate calculations.
• New guidance for priority use of smart pump.
• Expanded information about IM injections including recommended volumes for different sites for both adults and children.
• Addition of a comparative table for phosphates to help avoid confusion associated with the different presentations available.
• Expanded information about minimising the risk of staining with IV iron infusions.