First job in Oncology - Scared of chemo drug exposure

[New RN Grad 2008]

Hello,

I am a new grad who may be offered a job in Oncology. Does any else work their first RN job in Oncology? I am already scared of handling the chemo drugs. This is because I heard that being exposed to chemo drugs would make one have cancer later down the road? Help! Does any one else feel this way? I have to admit that I tend to worry excessively. However, I would rather choose med/surg instead of Oncology if the chemo drugs really freak me out.

I have been a Nursing Assistant for over a year, and I remembered that I used to "freak" out about handling pt's pooh. However, pooh does not scare me anymore. In fact, I learned to judge whether a patient is relatively healthy by observing the form and consistency of the pooh. So, may be the fact that I am freaking out about handling chemo drugs is just a normal reaction that will go away with time? The thing is I don't want to get cancer from my job by handling chemo drugs.

[EmmaG, RN]

You won't be expected to handle or administer chemo without being taught how to safely do so.

Relax.

[New RN Grad 2008]

Thanks for the reply. In the interview, I was told that I would be on orientation for 3 months, then at the 6th month, I would get chemo certified, and that is when I will be certified to hang chemo. So, given that the hospital wants the nurse to be on the job for 6 months before hanging chemo, it means that the hospital wants to make sure that the nurse is properly trained for hanging chemo, right?

Also, in most major hospital nowadays, the nurses don't mix the chemo anymore right? The pharmarcy mix the chemo? Do you also know if the pharmarcy would spike the chemo too? Any info would be appreciated.

Does any one also know if the standard treatment for ovarian cancer is radiation implants?

[EmmaG, RN]

Thanks for the reply. In the interview, I was told that I would be on orientation for 3 months, then at the 6th month, I would get chemo certified, and that is when I will be certified to hang chemo. So, given that the hospital wants the nurse to be on the job for 6 months before hanging chemo, it means that the hospital wants to make sure that the nurse is properly trained for hanging chemo, right?

Also, in most major hospital nowadays, the nurses don't mix the chemo anymore right? The pharmarcy mix the chemo? Do you also know if the pharmarcy would spike the chemo too? Any info would be appreciated.

You will no doubt go through the ONS curriculum for chemo and biotherapy administration. That ensures you have the knowledge to safely administer these drugs and monitor for side effects and adverse reactions, and what to do in the case of a spill or exposure. It's a pretty intensive course, and once you're ONS certified, your hospital will precept you per their own protocols before signing you off to do this on your own.

Pharmacy mixes chemo, but not in all hospitals do they necessarily spike the bags with the tubings. If your hospital expects the nurses to do so, you will be taught how to do this safely.

If you want to get a head-start on this, check out the ONS site.

http://onsopcontent.ons.org/education/distanceeducation/Chemo2Day/

http://www.ons.org/

Does any one also know if the standard treatment for ovarian cancer is radiation implants?

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/treatment/ovarian