Oncology Nursing Society: Chemotherapy Safety Standards

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Oncology Nursing Society: Chemotherapy Safety Standards

Table of Contents

Introduction
History and Importance of the Policy
Essential Points of the Policy and Nursing Perspectives
Conclusion
Reflection
References

Introduction

The problem of treating cancer patients, including children, has always been relevant and important. One of the stages of intervention is chemotherapy as the method of helping people to avoid malignant tumors and eliminate the consequences of the disease. Different practices and methods aimed at studying this field of medicine determine the order of care for patients and the necessary measures that should be taken by both nursing and medical personnel. One of the current policies that are valid today is the program adopted in 2016, which includes safety standards, defines the range of tasks, and describes the impact on key stakeholders (ASCO/ONS, 2016). The provisions of this policy have been developed with the aim of identifying the basic aspects of healthcare employees work with cancer patients. The 2016 program is one of the key ones, coordinating the activities of the staff of cancer departments and describing the standards of treatment among different categories of the population. It also provides evidence supporting the need for changes in the previous policies and identifies the main directions of work.

History and Importance of the Policy

Despite the fact that chemotherapy as a medical intervention has existed for a long time, special programs regulating the work of the nursing and medical apparatus concerning this practice were considered a few years ago. Until the policy of 2016, which is relevant at the moment, three programs were adopted earlier in 2009, 2011, and 2013 (ASCO/ONS, 2016). However, the latest version is updated and includes the most comprehensive list of measures aimed at working with cancer patients, as well as tasks that are assigned to staff and the representatives of the healthcare administration.

The importance of policy is justified in terms of the need to systematize available information on chemotherapy as one of the ways to treat cancer among different population groups. Particular attention is paid to children suffering from this dangerous ailment. According to Looper et al. (2016), the administration of chemotherapy to children and adolescents with cancer is a high-risk process with the potential to cause harm to both patients and nurses if not performed accurately and safely (p. 165). The latest updated program highlights all the essential issues and gives examples of an integrated approach to the treatment of young patients. The policy is also useful in terms of the possibility of sharing important experiences among nurses, oncologists, and other representatives of the healthcare sector. The 2016 program contains detailed plans for medical interventions aimed at treating cancer in adults and children and describes all the required procedures for preparing for chemotherapy. Different stakeholders took part in its drafting, which is a positive aspect and allows talking about the overall contribution to the solution of the issue under consideration.

Essential Points of the Policy and Nursing Perspectives

As has already been mentioned, the program of 2016 systematizes the available data on chemotherapy as one of the types of medical interventions in cancer. As Shah et al. (2016) remark, despite the fact that almost in every cancer department there are strict guidelines for the administration, which determine the order of control, management gaps were present before. Nevertheless, the introduction of an updated policy has made it possible to exclude possible violations of the working regime and to minimize the number of potential errors. According to Neuss et al. (2016), 63% of the interviewed junior medical workers confirmed that mistakes occurred periodically (p. 32). Therefore, the new program can be an effective guide to exclude incorrect or insufficiently adequate treatment.

The policy under consideration includes not only the training of medical personnel but also patient education. According to Belderson and Billett (2017), working with the target audience is an essential aspect of activities in oncology departments since people have an opportunity to receive all the necessary information regarding the upcoming intervention and its consequences. The availability of treatment is one of the essential components of the program, which is mentioned in the original text (Neuss et al., 2016). Thus, the important aspects of work are affected.

The primary focus is on registered nurses as the employees regulating the use of chemotherapy. The program provides for strict training requirements for specialists and defines the clear framework of theoretical and practical skills that are necessary for work. All care standards are systematized and presented in a concise form for convenience. As Looper et al. (2016) note, the competence of junior medical personnel is a prerequisite for the care of cancer patients and particularly children. Therefore, despite rather stringent conditions for control over the activities of nurses, the latest program is an effective means of training qualified personnel.

Conclusion

The policy of the regulation and administration of standards for using chemotherapy as a medical intervention in cancer patients, including children, allows determining the range of stakeholders tasks. The main spheres of activities are mentioned, and the actions of all specialists are given. The latest program of 2016 is the most augmented. Nursing perspectives include monitoring the use of chemotherapy and the training of specialists.

Reflection

The policy under consideration is chosen due to the fact that the issue of treating cancer patients through chemotherapeutic interventions has always been relevant. Some controversial nuances concerning the training of specialists and care peculiarities periodically arose, and the systematization of available knowledge was necessary. The importance of this program for nursing is significant since clear tasks are indicated, and the need to comply with all the requirements is one of the mandatory components of the work. Junior healthcare employees can significantly improve their skills by following the terms of the 2016 policy and taking into account the provisions that it contains. Prospects for the development of this field of medicine may be improved if the staff complies with the standards specified in the program. Patient outcomes can be improved, which will be a successful step in the fight against cancer.

References

ASCO/ONS Chemotherapy Administration Safety Standards. (2016). Web.

Belderson, K. M., & Billett, A. L. (2017). Chemotherapy safety standards: A pediatric perspective. Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing, 34(3), 156-159. Web.

Looper, K., Winchester, K., Robinson, D., Price, A., Langley, R., Martin, G.,& Flake, S. (2016). Best practices for chemotherapy Administration in Pediatric Oncology: Quality and safety process improvements (2015). Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing, 33(3), 165-172. Web.

Neuss, M. N., Gilmore, T. R., Belderson, K. M., Billett, A. L., Conti-Kalchik, T., Harvey, B. E.,& Polovich, M. (2016). 2016 updated American Society of Clinical Oncology/Oncology Nursing Society Chemotherapy Administration Safety Standards, including standards for pediatric oncology. Journal of Oncology Practice, 12(12), 1262-1271. Web.

Shah, N. N., Casella, E., Capozzi, D., McGettigan, S., Gangadhar, T. C., Schuchter, L., & Myers, J. S. (2016). Improving the safety of oral chemotherapy at an academic medical center. Journal of Oncology Practice, 12(1), e71-e76. Web.

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