Nurse practitioners are registered nurses who have completed a graduate-level nurse practitioner program and passed national certification exams to meet their state licensing requirements. Because nurse practitioners perform many of the same tasks as physicians, including prescribing medications, it is critical they have a strong knowledge of advanced pharmacology.
Universities offering advanced practice nursing degrees include advanced pharmacology as required core coursework. Aspiring nurse practitioners study safe management and prescription of medications and learn about a drug's mechanism of action, adverse side effects, drug interactions, effects on body systems and any contraindications.
Nurse practitioners can keep their advanced pharmacology skills current by enrolling in several continuing education programs. For example, professional organizations such as the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, offer numerous advanced pharmacology lectures during their annual conferences. Nursing universities also provide continuing education programs covering advanced pharmacology topics such as drug allergies and overuse.