As an oncology nurse, what have you found causes the most errors in chemotherapy and radiation administration?

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annwax (Nurse (Verified) ) - 03 / 03 / 2012

Discussing with my colleagues, the answer was always the same. “Never assume”, there are certain protocols that you must always maintain regarding the administration of chemotherapy or radiation.

1. Ask the patient his first and last name, birthday and make sure that it is correct on all orders.
2. Know the patient’s allergies and medical history
3. Inform the patient the side effects of the medications that they will be receiving or radiation.
4. Check the order for time, date, clear meaning of what is written, is the order appropriate to that patient and who wrote the order.
5. Check the BSA and the calculations to the order that is written.
6. Know the correct name of the chemotherapy agent that you will be administering to the patient.
7. Know what proper route, dose and quantity that you will be administering to the patient.
8. Know the side effects of the medications.
9. Check the Intra venous site to see good access, blood returned and patency.
10. Instruct the patient to what they are supposed to feel while the patient is receiving chemotherapy or radiation.
11. If you have any questions regarding what you are administering always ask before you administer. Never assume.
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