Chemo Exposure, What to do, Worried, Precautions

Dear All,

I am a newly grad RN considering Oncology. I am concerned about exposure to chemo drugs which could potentially be harmful to my health. I have been working as a Nursing Assistant in the hospital for over a year now. I understand that in the health care field, there is always risks in every speciality. For example, in psych nursing - violent patients; needle-sticks, air-borne precautions, C-diff, MRSA, radiation exposure. I understand that in most major hospital nowadays, nurses don't mix the chemo drugs, the pharmarcy do. In most major hospitals, would the pharmacy also spike the chemo drugs?

Since I do not have a lot of facts about safety on chemo drug exposures, I am VERY CONCERNED on getting cancer down the years. In the job interview with the onocology floor, I was told that I would be on orientation for 3 months. Then, after 6 months, I would get certified in hanging chemo. So, given that it takes 6 months for one to get certified in hanging chemo, that says the hospital is making sure a nurse is PROPERLY TRAINED before administering such a dangerous drug right?

I am confused about my fear in chemo drug exposure. I want to almost to consider to turn down the oncology floor and request to go into med/surg, where it could be "relatively safer." I have been working in the ER for the past year, while in the ER, I worry about being exposed to everything that comes in thru the ER. Now, I am worrying about chemo drug exposure in Oncology. Will this worry ever end?