SAFETY PRECAUTIONS IN HOME CHEMOTHERAPY

Abstract

n many ways providing chemotherapy in the home is much the same as it is in the hospital, but there are some important differences. The following recommendations are drawn from my experience in setting up a chemotherapy home care service. First, the RN assigned to such care must be thoroughly familiar with antineoplastic chemotherapy-handling, storage, safety factors, administration, and, if necessary, reconstitution of the drug. There is no one to double-check with in the home setting; the nurse, usually the only professional seeing the patient, therefore is responsible for recommending appropriate therapy to the patient, recognizing adverse reactions, and knowing which adverse reactions require medical intervention, and when to report them. The home care nurse also must be skilled in intravenous therapy and be able to organize all necessary equipment and medications-there is no running back to the nurses' station to get forgotten items. In particular, the nurse needs to be familiar with all types of venous access lines (e.g., peripheral lines, long lines, central lines, and implantable catheters). The nurse must be able to teach patient and/or family how to maintain In the home, there is no