underdosage of chemo drugs. HELP!

Specialties Oncology

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hi, i need ur advice. i have a friend who's working in a tertiary hospital. he was a volunteer nurse who just graduated from college. he was asked to hang a chemo. the pt. went so good and didnt have any reactions to the chemo. when the infusion was done. he stopped it. when the doctor came after a day. the doctor noticed that there was still about 400cc left of the fluids - he forgot to throw it out or a nurse had noticed it ( i dnt know!) but anyway, my friend didn't notice coz it was all wrapped with a black cloth. he was called by the nurse supervisor and made an incident report about what happened.

the main concerned of my friend was that he was worried about his patient, he doesn't care if he got reprimanded or scolded because it was his mistake after all. but he was so worried with the patient. he has been crying for days now, and i can't help him out about it because i just have few knowledge about chemo drugs..

our questions are:

1, since the doctor knew that the patient was underdosed, will the doctor can still able to do something about it?

2, will it harm the patient and make his/her cancer worst?

3, does my friend did a very tremendous mistake?

4, how can i comfort my friend?he has been crying for days now. he's very devastated with what he has done. (her grandparents died from CA, that's why he is very concerned about his patients)

thanks for your help. GOD BLESS...

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

What I cant understand is how it was still at the side of the patient a day later and if he stopped it because it was done how come still some left in the bag. If the doctor wanted to add further treatment that is up to them, all you can do is support your friend and hope he learns from his mistake. Unfortunately nurses do make mistakes and the important thing is patient is OK and the nurse learns from it. I always made it part of the process when stopping IV fluids if finished and not putting anything up then to disconnect from the patient and dispose appropriately.

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What I cant understand is how it was still at the side of the patient a day later and if he stopped it because it was done how come still some left in the bag. If the doctor wanted to add further treatment that is up to them, all you can do is support your friend and hope he learns from his mistake. Unfortunately nurses do make mistakes and the important thing is patient is OK and the nurse learns from it. I always made it part of the process when stopping IV fluids if finished and not putting anything up then to disconnect from the patient and dispose appropriately.

i just talked to my friend. he said.. he didn't disposed it and just put it beside the IV stand. near the patient. so the doctor saw it. it was all wrapped with a black cloth. he thought that it was all infused bt unknowingly the fold held up some fluids. he was in a hurry at that time coz his other patient had a cardiac arrest. -thank you, i just told him about it, that he shouldn't be very worried. important is that the doctor knew that the patient was underdosed and can do something. -he won't listen, and now he wants to stop from his work. coz he cant afford to do mistakes again.:o

but anyway, thank u so much. i'd print this out and let my friend read it. thank u.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

I hope he doesn't give up on nursing would be a shame to loose a career in this way, yes his confidence is shot, take it from someone who has been there, more important he learns from mistake and much better to dispose of stuff straight away and especially with chemo stuff as that has to be more strictly disposed of and should have relevant containers at the side of the bed to make disposal easier.

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I hope he doesn't give up on nursing would be a shame to loose a career in this way, yes his confidence is shot, take it from someone who has been there, more important he learns from mistake and much better to dispose of stuff straight away and especially with chemo stuff as that has to be more strictly disposed of and should have relevant containers at the side of the bed to make disposal easier.

thank you so much, il tell him exactly what u said. hope this could help him thank you so much.

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No one should hang chemotherapy drugs or administer chemotherapy drugs without being certified to do so.

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1, since the doctor knew that the patient was underdosed, will the doctor can still able to do something about it?

NOT ALWAYS...

2, will it harm the patient and make his/her cancer worst?

POSSIBLY YES AS HE DIDN'T GET THE RIGHT DOSE AT THE RIGHT TIME AND HE MAY BE ON OTHER CHEMOTHERAPY DRUGS THAT ARE ALL SYNCED TO WORK TOGETHER AT SCHEDULED TIMES...LIKE A RECIPE....YOU CAN'T ALWAYS GO BACK TO CORRECT(ADD AN EGG AFTER THE CAKE IS BAKED)

3, does my friend did a very tremendous mistake?

YES

4, how can i comfort my friend?he has been crying for days now. he's very devastated with what he has done. (her grandparents died from CA, that's why he is very concerned about his patients)

JUST TO LEARN THAT CHEMOTHERAPY SHOULD ONLY BE GIVEN BY CERTIFIED STAFF.

ALSO NOT TO GIVE DRUGS THAT HE DOES NOT FULLY UNDERSTAND.

WHOEVER TOLD HIM TO GIVE IT SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE...THAT IS JUST PLAIN IGNORANT.

thanks for your help. GOD BLESS...

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