NR 293 Week 2 Discussion: Safety Precautions with Chemotherapeutics | Download To Score An A

Week 2 Discussion: Safety Precautions with Chemotherapeutics Discuss safety precautions you would include when teaching patients about chemotherapeutic drugs. Hello class, Many chemotherapeutic drugs have a low therapeutic index because of a small window between what is therapeutic and what is toxic (Collins, Lilley, Snyder, 2019). There has been a significant increase in the availability and use of oral chemotherapeutic agents. The guidelines around safe handling chemotherapeutic agents are still evolving today (Goodin & et al., 2011). Oral chemotherapy associates with ease of administration and have the same exposure risks to everyone. Accidental exposure to oral chemotherapeutic agents can occur at various stages such as administration, disposal, handling, storage transport, unpacking, etc. According to the American Cancer Society (2020), oral chemo taken by mouth and swallow is usually taken at home. It is important to teach your patients' safety precautions when it comes to chemotherapeutic drugs. Safety precautions with chemotherapeutic drugs vary depending on how you receive the drugs. It is important to flush the toilet twice every time they are used and put the lid down before flushing to avoid splashing. Always wash your hands with warm water and soap, and dry your hands with paper towels, and dispose of them. If the patient vomits into the toilet, clean of all splashes and flush twice. If the patient vomits into a bucket or basin, carefully empty it into the toilet without splashing the contents and flush twice. Wash the bucket with hot and soapy water before rinsing it. Empty the wash and rinse water into the toilet before flushing it. Caregivers should wear at least two pairs of disposable gloves then they are touching the patients' body fluids. They should always wash their hands with warm water and soap even if they had gloves on. If the caregiver comes into contact with the patient's body fluids, they should wash the area with very warm water and soap. It is important that patients use protection when having sexual intercourse and know to avoid getting pregnant while they are having chemotherapy. The drugs may cause harm to the baby. Do not break, crush, or chew chemo pills. References: Chemotherapy safety. (2020). American Cancer Society | Information and Resources about for Cancer: Breast, Colon, Lung, Prostate, Skin. Goodin, S., Griffith, N., Chen, B., Chuk, K., Daouphars, M., Doreau, C., Rinku, Schwartz, R., Tamés, M., Terkola, R., Vadnais, B., Wright, D., and Meier, K. (2011). Safe Handling of Oral Chemotherapeutic Agents in Clinical Practice: Recommendations From an International Pharmacy Panel. doi: 10.1200/JOP.2010. Souter, S., Lilley, L. L., Collins, S. R., Snyder, J. S., & Lilley, L. L. (2020). Study guide for pharmacology and the nursing process (9th ed.). Mosby.