ABSTRACT
To explore the nurses' expectations and experience about pharmacists in private sector hospitals of Karachi, Pakistan. A cross-sectional study was conducted from June to September 2012 in five private sector hospitals of Karachi, Pakistan. A convenient sample of nurses [n=377] were enrolled in this study. Data was obtained through a previously validated questionnaire. Responses were statistically analyzed using SPSSv.17. Questionnaires were returned giving a response rate of 63.6% of which 20 were unusable [n=240]. Out of the remaining 220, 24.1% [n=53] responded that they never or rarely interacted with a pharmacist. Respondents who expect pharmacists to collaborate with nurses to solve drug related problems were 45% [n=99]. Nurses' experience of pharmacists was not substantial as only 44.5% [n=98] respondents consider pharmacists as a reliable source of clinical drug information. The role of pharmacists is not well appreciated among nurses in Pakistan. Hence, pharmacists must bridge the observed gap and use a more strategic and consistent approach to build a more positive image in line with other healthcare professionals and in providing patient-centred pharmaceutical care. This research would impress upon the pharmacists the need to redefine their role in the healthcare settings