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Discussion

Chemo Disconnects

Anyone else doing them?

My HHA paid for me to get my ONS certification to give chemo/biotherapies in February/March last year... Since then I've been doing 5 FU disconnects, accessing/deaccessing clients' ports for hydration/ IV pain medication etc...

There are only 3 of us doing it so we cover a HUGE territory, like 150-200 miles a day and I have no idea where I'm going until the night before. We're also responsible for bridging clients' with cancer to hospice often, plus we see other clients with PICCs who are on antibiotics and other IV meds. Also if a client's port is leaking or their pump is malfunctioning we HAVE to go out, myself and one of the other nurses take turns...

I'm wondering how other angencies handle the chemo disconnects

I love my job but it's very stressful! Any tips/ pointers/ suggestions would be helpful!

Thanks!

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    Most of the chemo we do in the home are pushes. On a rare occasion, a patient will go home with something infusing, the oncology clinic will call and say "So and So's chemo will be done at 3P tomorrow, he will need a visit for a disconnect and a port deaccess" and then we go out at that time, disconnect the chemo and deaccess the port-a-cath.

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    To me, that is not a large territory.. as a matter of fact, I would love it if my territory could be limited to to 200 miles. Sometimes, It takes us four hours one way to get to a patient, and then another four to get to our next patient.. and the day continues. Home health, or in my case, Infusion is a very rewarding job, but the drawback is the travel. But, do the pros outweigh the cons? I believe it does. Driving has never been a problem for me, and I enjoy the solitude.

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