Congress Abstracts 2006

81

USING A TASK FORCE AS A MECHANISM FOR STANDARDIZING AND IMPROVING PRACTICE. Rachel Behrendt, BA, RN, OCN^®, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick, NJ.

Starting in December of 2004, it was acknowledged that chemotherapy administration practice varied greatly both within the four oncology units at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital as well as the outpatient infusion area at the Cancer Institute of New Jersey. Because of the unique arrangement between the two facilities, and the fact that chemotherapy practicum experiences were conducted at CINJ, it was decided that we needed to come to consensus as to best practice regarding all facets of chemotherapy administration. A task force was created comprised of representation at all levels of nursing. Staff, head nurses, directors, pharmacists, and educators from each area were included.

1. To establish open dialogue amongst nurses from all levels of oncology practice regarding chemotherapy administration, practice issues, and concerns.
2. To create consensus regarding chemotherapy administration, documentation, and education.
3. To create revised policies that reflect consensus.
4. To provide education to all chemotherapy nurses regarding practice standards established by the group.

As a result of the discussions held and the research these discussion fostered, major changes in chemotherapy practice were made. These include changes in: PPE, pump programming, institution of a medical surveillance plan, and more. The result of this task force's work has meant research into and adoption of best practices, policy development, and best of all, because of the broad range of committee participants, buy-in to the changes by all levels of oncology nursing.

The group was led by the Oncology Nurse Educator. Support from Nursing Administration was obtained, giving the group the authority to review all areas of chemotherapy nursing practice, come to consensus in accordance with ONS guidelines and any applicable regulatory agency requirements and revise policies accordingly. A survey covering all areas of administration (PPE, priming, pump programming, symptom assessment, documentation, patient teaching) was distributed to all committee members. The responses formed the basis for future discussions.

Overall, using this mechanism to review oncology practice has been enlightening, required patience as consensus was reached, and resulted in a more uniform and thus safer method for all aspect of chemotherapy care.