Congress Abstracts 2006

276

SAFE CHEMOTHERAPY ADMINISTRATION IN A HOSPITAL SETTING. Janice Beschorner, RN, MS, AOCN^® , and Amy Jones, RN, BSN, OCN^® , University of Chicago Hospitals, Chicago, IL.

Safe chemotherapy administration is paramount for patients. Managing complex chemotherapy and supportive care orders for the oncology patient is a nursing challenge. Nurses must be able to clearly read chemotherapy orders, process them which includes verification of doses, and administer the drugs accurately. Additionally, documentation of the administration as well as the patient's tolerance of the side effects and interventions used to minimize those side effects is all part of safe administration. The error could be compounded in pharmacy. Additionally, supportive care orders in this population are very important to the care of these patients and it is important that oncology nurses assess that they are included with the chemotherapy orders.

The chemotherapy policy at this institution delineates the role of the physician, the nurse, and the pharmacist in the writing of the orders, the processing of the orders, and drug administration. The purpose of this poster presentation is to show our institution's process for chemotherapy. We will describe the process of chemotherapy order transcription and administration which requires two oncology RN's for the transcription and for administration. Examples of 'good catches' will be presented.

Oncology nursing practice for chemotherapy administration must include the 5 rights of medication administration, plus the checks and balances of dose calculations. Any question of the physician's orders must be addressed immediately. Chemotherapy audits are performed every week to monitor nursing compliance with the policy.

We have been able to demonstrate increased compliance with chemo-therapy policy. Oncology nurses are assertive in speaking with physicians about patients who will be or who are receiving chemotherapy.