Knowledge of pharmacology is important in nursing for reasons of patient care and patient education.  There are seven aspects of drug therapy and patient care discussed in the text:

Preadministration Assessment:  There are three goals of assessing the client before administering medication.  The collection of base-line data helps the nurse evaluate the effects of the medication.  Identifying high-risk patients is another goal of this initial assessment.  Making this identification allows the health care team to take steps to lessen the risk to the patient, or at least to prepare for any adverse reactions.  The last goal is to assess the patient's capacity for self-care.

Dosage and Administration:  Having a knowledge of pharmacology helps the nurse to avoid errors that could prove harmful to the patient.

Evaluating and Promoting Therapeutic Effects:  Evaluating the effects of medications on the client is an important step in the patient's care.  Promoting patient compliance and implementing nondrug measures in addition to drug therapy are also important considerations.

Minimizing Adverse Effects

Minimizing Adverse Interactions

Making PRN Decisions

Managing Toxicity:  Pharmacological knowledge helps the nurse identify early signs of toxicity, so that treatment can be administered promptly.

Another role the nurse fulfills is that of patient educator.   The responsibility of teaching the client about his/her medications is an important one, and should include information on the drug name and dosage information (size, timing, route, length of treatment); therapeutic effects, side effects, and adverse effects;  drug interactions with other drugs or foods; how to store drug and what to do in the event of an adverse reaction.  Teaching the patient about non-drug measures that can be used in conjunction with drug therapy can be highly beneficial as well.