Nurses should understand the role and purpose of the new generation of therapies available for patients with cancer. One such drug is the poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor olaparib (Lynparza™▼). As it becomes available, it will be important for nurses to understand how it works, how to anticipate any side effects and how to manage these effectively. This article describes the importance of BRCA gene mutations in women with ovarian cancer and introduces olaparib, a targeted agent for use in these women in accordance with its label indication.