Antineoplastic Therapy Administration Safety Standards for Adult and Pediatric Oncology: ASCO-ONS Standards.

Purpose: To update the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)-Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) standards for antineoplastic therapy administration safety in adult and pediatric oncology and highlight current standards for antineoplastic therapy for adult and pediatric populations with various routes of administration and location.

Methods: ASCO and ONS convened a multidisciplinary Expert Panel with representation of multiple organizations to conduct literature reviews and add to the standards as needed. The evidence base was combined with the opinion of the ASCO-ONS Expert Panel to develop antineoplastic safety standards and guidance.

Antineoplastic Therapy Administration Safety Standards for Adult and Pediatric Oncology: ASCO-ONS Standards.

Purpose: To update the ASCO-Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) standards for antineoplastic therapy administration safety in adult and pediatric oncology and highlight current standards for antineoplastic therapy for adult and pediatric populations with various routes of administration and location.

Methods: ASCO and ONS convened a multidisciplinary Expert Panel with representation of multiple organizations to conduct literature reviews and add to the standards as needed. The evidence base was combined with the opinion of the ASCO-ONS Expert Panel to develop antineoplastic safety standards and guidance.

Cancer Drug Safety Training: Comparing Distance and In-Person Simulations for Interprofessional Education.

The Multi-Professional Oncology Safety and Simulation Training (MOSST) program, supported by the National Cancer Institute was launched in Fall 2018. The original workshop was conducted in person. As the COVID pandemic hit the program was transitioned to an online/distance simulation program using best practices in healthcare simulation design and implementation.

Evaluation of an Interprofessional Training Program to Improve Cancer Drug Therapy Safety.

Purpose: Drug therapy for cancer is a high-risk, high-volume clinical intervention that requires interprofessional teams. Given the complexity of anticancer drug therapy and safety concerns, an interdisciplinary team developed a novel training program for oncology registered nurses and pharmacists to improve cancer drug safety.

Methods: Participants completed preworkshop learning assessments and received access to web-based modules on six topics: hazardous drug handling, drug extravasation, hypersensitivity reaction management, sepsis recognition, immune checkpoint inhibitor toxicities, and oral oncolytic adherence.

Factors influencing precautions against antineoplastic drug exposure among nurses and nurse assistants in Thailand.

Background: Antineoplastic drugs (AD) are important chemical risks for healthcare workers. Precautions against AD exposure include the use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). Evaluation of PPE usage during patient care processes has not been reported in Thailand.

Hazardous Drug Exposure: Case Report Analysis From a Prospective, Multisite Study of Oncology Nurses' Exposure in Ambulatory Settings.

Background: Hazardous drug exposure is an occupational health hazard to oncology nurses. Sparse data are available regarding the frequency and characteristics of hazardous drug spills.

Objectives: This article aims to describe nurses' hazardous drug exposures and use of personal protective equipment during drug spills.

USP General Chapter <800>: Considerations for Oncology Nursing Practice.

Objectives: To describe the nurse leader's role in implementing the hazardous drug safe-handling standards from USP General Chapter <800> that are most relevant to oncology nursing practice, and to provide strategies for reducing nurses' exposure to hazardous drugs.

Data Sources: Published literature indexed in PubMed, CINAHL, textbooks, and clinical expertise.

Conclusion: Nurse leaders are essential to promoting a safe environment for nurses handling hazardous cancer drugs.

Surface Contamination With Antineoplastic Drugs on Two Inpatient Oncology Units.

Objectives: To measure surface contamination with antineoplastic drugs on inpatient oncology units and to characterize nursing staff personal protective equipment (PPE) use and factors that predict this use.

Sample & Setting: A descriptive pilot study of two inpatient oncology units at Duke University Hospital in Durham, North Carolina, administering etoposide and cyclophosphamide.

Methods & Variables: Surfaces in four patient rooms and select shared areas were swabbed with methanol, acetonitrile, and water.

Personal Protective Equipment: Evaluating Usage Among Inpatient and Outpatient Oncology Nurses.

Background: Chemotherapy agents have long been considered hazardous, and safety for healthcare providers when administering these drugs is a primary concern. Personal protective equipment (PPE) is known to decrease exposure to hazardous drugs. Studies report that PPE is underused among healthcare providers in inpatient and outpatient settings.

U.S. Pharmacopeial Chapter <800>: Be Ready to Comply by July 2018 .

The U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention's "Chapter <800> Hazardous Drugs-Handling in Healthcare Settings" is a new part of the National Formulary that describes standards-expectations for practice-for all aspects of handling and administering hazardous drugs (HDs).

2016 Updated American Society of Clinical Oncology/Oncology Nursing Society Chemotherapy Administration Safety Standards, Including Standards for Pediatric Oncology.

Purpose: To update the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)/Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) Chemotherapy Administration Safety Standards and to highlight standards for pediatric oncology.

Methods: The ASCO/ONS Chemotherapy Administration Safety Standards were first published in 2009 and updated in 2011 to include inpatient settings. A subsequent 2013 revision expanded the standards to include the safe administration and management of oral chemotherapy.

Testing an Intervention to Decrease Healthcare Workers' Exposure to Antineoplastic Agents.

Purpose/objectives: To develop and test a worksite intervention that protects healthcare workers who handle antineoplastic drugs from work-related exposures. 
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Design: Intervention study.

2016 Updated American Society of Clinical Oncology/Oncology Nursing Society Chemotherapy Administration Safety Standards, Including Standards for Pediatric Oncology.

Purpose To update the ASCO/Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) Chemotherapy Administration Safety Standards and to highlight standards for pediatric oncology. Methods The ASCO/ONS Chemotherapy Administration Safety Standards were first published in 2009 and updated in 2011 to include inpatient settings. A subsequent 2013 revision expanded the standards to include the safe administration and management of oral chemotherapy.

Occupational Exposure to Antineoplastic Agents.

Approximately 8 million health care workers are unnecessarily exposed to highly toxic drugs used to treat cancer; antineoplastic drugs can contribute to negative health effects for these workers. The drugs have been detected in the urine of workers and on the floors and counters of worksites. Safety precautions that could reduce the risk of exposure are underutilized.

Minimizing Occupational Exposure to Antineoplastic Agents.

The inherent toxicity of antineoplastic drugs used for the treatment of cancer makes them harmful to healthy cells as well as to cancer cells. Nurses who prepare and/or administer the agents potentially are exposed to the drugs and their negative effects. Knowledge about these drugs and the precautions aimed at reducing exposure are essential aspects of infusion nursing practice.

Reproductive health risks associated with occupational exposures to antineoplastic drugs in health care settings: a review of the evidence.

Objectives: Antineoplastic drugs are known reproductive and developmental toxicants. Our objective was to review the existing literature of reproductive health risks to workers who handle antineoplastic drugs.

Methods: A structured literature review of 18 peer-reviewed, English language publications of occupational exposure and reproductive outcomes was performed.

Antineoplastic drug exposure in an ambulatory setting: a pilot study.

Background: Exposure to antineoplastic drugs confers health risks to workers, yet little is known about the exposure after a drug spill, nor has the relationship between exposure and organizational factors such as staffing and work environment been studied.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate drug spills prospectively using biological measures and correlate drug spills with organizational factors.

Methods: Prospective questionnaires with 8-hour timed urine samples were collected from nursing and pharmacy personnel who reported drug spill events in 1 academic health center's infusion center.

2013 updated American Society of Clinical Oncology/Oncology Nursing Society chemotherapy administration safety standards including standards for the safe administration and management of oral chemotherapy.

In 2009, ASCO and the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) published standards for the safe use of parenteral chemotherapy in the outpatient setting, including issues of practitioner orders, preparation, and administration of medication. In 2011, these were updated to include inpatient facilities. In December 2011, a multistakeholder workgroup met to address the issues associated with orally administered antineoplastics, under the leadership of ASCO and ONS.

2013 updated American Society of Clinical Oncology/Oncology Nursing Society chemotherapy administration safety standards including standards for the safe administration and management of oral chemotherapy.

In 2009, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) published standards for the safe use of parenteral chemotherapy in the outpatient setting, including issues of practitioner orders, preparation, and administration of medication. In 2011, these were updated to include inpatient facilities. In December 2011, a multistakeholder workgroup met to address the issues associated with orally administered antineoplastics, under the leadership of ASCO and ONS.

Revisions to the 2009 american society of clinical oncology/oncology nursing society chemotherapy administration safety standards: expanding the scope to include inpatient settings.

In November 2009, ASCO and the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) jointly published a set of 31 voluntary chemotherapy safety standards for adult patients with cancer, as the end result of a highly structured, multistakeholder process. The standards were explicitly created to address patient safety in the administration of parenteral and oral chemotherapeutic agents in outpatient oncology settings. In January 2011, a workgroup consisting of ASCO and ONS members was convened to review feedback received since publication of the standards, to address interim changes in practice, and to modify the standards as needed.

Factors influencing oncology nurses' use of hazardous drug safe-handling precautions.

Purpose/objectives: To examine relationships among factors affecting nurses' use of hazardous drug (HD) safe-handling precautions, identify factors that promote or interfere with HD precaution use, and determine managers' perspectives on the use of HD safe-handling precautions.

Design: Cross-sectional, mixed methods; mailed survey to nurses who handle chemotherapy and telephone interviews with managers.

Setting: Mailed invitation to oncology centers across the United States.

Revisions to the 2009 American Society of Clinical Oncology/Oncology Nursing Society chemotherapy administration safety standards: expanding the scope to include inpatient settings.

In November 2009, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) jointly published a set of 31 voluntary chemotherapy safety standards for adult patients with cancer, as the end result of a highly structured, multistakeholder process. The standards were explicitly created to address patient safety in the administration of parenteral and oral chemotherapeutic agents in outpatient oncology settings. In January 2011, a workgroup consisting of ASCO and ONS members was convened to review feedback received since publication of the standards, to address interim changes in practice, and to modify the standards as needed.

Nurses' use of hazardous drug-handling precautions and awareness of national safety guidelines.

Purpose/objectives: To determine patterns of personal protective equipment (PPE) used by oncology nurses while handling hazardous drugs (HDs) and to assess knowledge of the 2004 National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Alert and its effect on precaution use.

Design: Descriptive, correlational.

Setting: The Oncology Nursing Society 31st Annual Congress in Boston, MA, in 2006.