TAA member Susan M. Ford is a Professor Emeritus with the Tacoma Community College Nursing Program and a textbook author in the nursing discipline.

She recently published the 11th edition of Roach’s Introductory Clinical Pharmacology as the sole author. It just hit the shelves in October 2017. She writes about pharmacology in the context of nursing practice – which has led her to contribute to two other textbooks and a number of online modules to compliment a 3rd nursing textbook. She is also a reviewer for a number of nursing textbooks.

What are you currently working on?
I am currently working on some short videos to help guide both students and instructors through the complexities of medication management, found in my text. The recently published nursing text (with its accompanying study guide), features 6 case study individuals sprinkled throughout the chapters of the books. New to this addition are detailed instructions on using mind mapping to visualize the drug therapy and interactions of these 6 individuals. The videos are designed to coincide with the drugs in each chapter to help students discover the interactions (both good and bad) when new drugs are introduced in patient care and how those additions change the current treatment plan.

Share a recent accomplishment.
I recently read an article in Nursing2017 on a condition called Panhypopituitaryism. Basically this means your pituitary gland does not work so it does not regulate the multiple body functions that it should. This condition requires multiple medications to be given almost daily to make these vital bodily functions continue. The article discussed the importance of doing this, but did not discuss the patient burden. I know a young adult with this condition, and together we are working on writing about this burden – emotionally, physically and most importantly financially. We will be submitting as either an article (depends upon length) or editorial, because health providers frequently don’t understand the multidimensional burden we place on people when we discuss (and often times push) treatment options.

What is your favorite textbook writing tip or strategy?
Less is more! I see our job as writers to help guide actions in the real world. By using our writing talents to break a complex subject into manageable pieces, the reader can then make the complex linkages we hoped to portray in our writings.

What is your best TAA experience so far?
Learning about Indexing! I followed the steps in both the newsletter and what I learned at the yearly conference in Providence. This not only helped me identify issues in my own text, but helped me construct a defensible argument to get the product I wanted in my textbook. Additionally, I think it drew attention to the deliverables received by my publisher – which were not up to either of our standards. As they said, ‘when no one complains, we don’t know’. Thanks TAA! Note on picture – Life balance, makes the successful writer! Pic is with husband, day after last year’s conference in Pawtucket, RI watching the Pawsox play ball! Did you know, this is where the longest ball game in history was held – 31 innings!

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