In this paper we develop a prescriptive framework for the stabilising controller design based on approximate discrete-time models for nonlinear Networked Control Systems (NCSs) with time-varying sampling intervals, large time-varying delays and packet dropouts. As opposed to emulation-based approaches where the effects of sampling-and-hold and delays are ignored in the phase of controller design, we propose an approach in which the controller design is based on approximate discrete-time models constructed for a set of nominal (non-zero) sampling intervals and nominal delays while taking into account sampling-and-hold effects. Subsequently, sufficient conditions for the global exponential stability of the closed-loop NCS are provided. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.