Del

Hello. I was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. I have had my surgery and and just received my first dose of IV taxol and herceptin. I have some concerns over the administration and wanted some advice. First- I had the lidocaine creme on my port and the nurse did not wipe it off first, she used the HCG sponge from the packet to wipe it off. She also kind of swiped everywhere. Did not go from port outward. On needle insertion She had difficulty getting blood return and had the saline syringe lying down on my chest on my shirt and kept returning her hand to the syringe (no longer sterile then back up to my port (no dressing on it) to manipulate the port and did this several times- so my site is no longer sterile. She eventually had to use a larger needle (no biggie I know that happens) and did reclean the site. She placed a filter but she opened it and just held it in her hand (had non sterile gloves on) contaminating the ends and at one point she did the same with the IV tubing, end touched her nonsterile glove. The primary tubing was hooked to saline and had the filter and the taxol and herceptin were given separately as a secondary. The secondary tubing was changed between administration of the drugs but the primary tubing and filter were not. They were flushed- this may be normal I don’t know? So I have taken care of several patients with port infections causing sepsis, endocarditis and PE’s. I am extremely concerned about getting a port infection. I had gotten 50 mg of IV Benadryl and wax pretty loopy so I didn’t say anything to the nurse. I will have treatments for a year and it is set up where you have the same nurse every time. Am I being too picky??? Should I say something to her? Should I say something to the charge nurse or her manager? I also work at this same hospital but on a different unit. thank you

Hello. I am an RN with 26 years experience and I was recently dx with polymyositis. I have been on prednisone 10 mg a day since April and I’m about to start Cellcept, I am concerned about continuing to work on my unit (orthopedic but float frequently) and being on immunosuppressants. Anyone else on this forum taking cellcept and do you still work?