schlemJM

I know this is an old post but we only use 20 gauge hubers....

We are experiecing the same thing. In my practice the nurses are responsable for all drug ordering so we deal with the distributor directly. It seems to change order to order, for at least 10 months we could not get Leucovorin then it became available again, now I can't get it . Etoposide had trouble getting that for a while, today it was available. Could not get Cisplat today and for the first time Navelbine. It becomes an obstacle when trying to treat the patient with the appropriate treatment plan. Many phone calls to formulate when and where we can get the drug. We haven't used Doxil for quite a while as it is not available, there is some type of way to try to get the drug for a pt. but I guess it is very time consuming and not a fast enough process for a patient that needs treatment.

We curently have two patients on. the protocal we are using has us run the oxali first and then the CPT-11 along with the leucovorin, followed by continuous 5FU.

Folfirinox- wondering if this treatment is being used?

First, I think you should adress this with your nurse manager, if every other unit has a unit secretary then what is the reason your unit is the only one that lack this, if you already have I hope you were given an exceptable answe or explanation. Unfortunately nurses traditionally have worn several hats-we end up with several responsabilities that are non nursing. I work in an outpatient oncology center and we have to do billing, drug and supply ordering, medical waste preparation, stocking and filling the bathrooms with toilet paper, paper towels, filling the soap dispensors. Patient snacks and beverage order, insurance prior authorization paper work, home care referrals, file our patient charts, make copies of patient teaching sheets, order patient booklets, unpack and stock chemotherapy and other medications as well as unpacking and putting aways other supplies and linens. we mix our own chemo and do inventory at the end of the month. Clean the mixing hood and wipe down all the patient chairs, tables, and equipment. Nurses just seem to end up with several jobs that are not necessarily nursing resposabilities, probably because we just do it. I do make it a priority to always put the patient first (as I am sure you do). But I do think that there are times that things should be addressed, and we deserve and exceptable reason or explanation if change is not an option. Hang in there!