| Sumario: | Significance & Background: Chemotherapy is a hazardous drug not only to the patients receiving the medication but to staff members caring for the patient. Within the Cancer Hospital, chemotherapy is handled daily leading to increased comfort and lax clinical management by staff. As new nurses in oncology, we attended the internship where we began to learn about the hazards of chemotherapy and precautions to be taken when handling or caring for patients receiving chemotherapy. Comparing educational information shared with observed practices, deficits were identified in the implementation of safety precautions. Purpose: The goal of this project was to increase knowledge and compliance with chemotherapy precautions post administration. Interventions: A presurvey was conducted that included questions on handling of chemotherapy agents, effects of exposure, proper personal protective equipment, duration of precautions, and how agents are excreted. After reviewing survey results, a poster was developed highlighting identified topics. The poster was available in multiple areas on all inpatient oncology units. A post survey was conducted 3 weeks after introduction of the poster to determine effectiveness of teaching method and staff confidence. Results: Presurvey, using a 5-point scale, level of confidence in understanding chemotherapy precautions was 3.71. Survey questions focused on duration of chemotherapy precautions, excretion of chemotherapy, effects of chemotherapy exposure, handling of chemotherapy, and proper personal protective equipment (PPE). Scores in all areas improved. The most significant improvements were seen in handling of chemotherapy (53% increase), proper PPE (29% increase) and effects of chemotherapy exposure (27% increase). Discussion: Barriers included differing levels of knowledge prior to taking the survey and the variation of participation between pre- and postsurvey due to consistent staff members participating in both segments of the project. Suggestions for additional clinical support include development of a unit binder containing information on chemotherapy precautions, updating chemotherapy door signs so that signage stands out for staff and visitors from other posted signs, include information on chemotherapy precautions in orientation binders for new nurses and techs, and increasing unit supplies so that PPE is consistently available for utilization when there is a potential of exposure to body fluids during chemotherapy treatment and for up to 48 hours post infusion.
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