Course Overview

Chemotherapy is a widely utilised treatment approach for patients with cancer. However, this treatment pathway poses substantial challenges for both patients and healthcare professionals due to its potential for serious and enduring side effects.

This Ausmed Course provides learners with a comprehensive understanding of how to best care for patients undergoing chemotherapy, while also prioritising their own safety in practice.

Topics

• The role of chemotherapy in the treatment of cancers
• Common side effects of chemotherapy
• Cytotoxic precautions
• Psychological and psychosocial impacts
• Patient and family education

Need

Chemotherapy is one of the most common treatment options that can cure or help to contain the spread of cancerous growths and provide symptom relief. However, the consequence of this treatment pathway is that it presents many onerous side effects and adverse events, which commonly impact patient quality of life. Chemotherapy drugs are also high-risk medications that pose a safety risk to healthcare professionals.

Therefore, it is essential for all healthcare professionals to understand the protocols surrounding chemotherapy and its potentially toxic side effects if they are to provide and practice safe, high-quality care to patients without endangering themselves. Additionally, while also fostering and maintaining a supportive relationship with patients that reflects respect and dignity in their care.

Purpose

The purpose of this Ausmed Course is to provide an enhanced, in-depth understanding of chemotherapy care considerations in order to best support patients with cancer, improve nursing practice and reduce harm for both patients and healthcare professionals.

Learning Outcomes

• Understand common treatment pathways for patients undergoing chemotherapy and its role in cancer treatment.
• Describe and evaluate the most-common side effects that are present in this patient group.
• Apply and demonstrate cytotoxic precaution knowledge when treating patients undergoing chemotherapy.
• Examine the role of the nurse or healthcare professional in providing patient education and support.

Target Audience

This Ausmed Course is intended for nurses and other healthcare professionals looking to increase their understanding of the role of the clinician in caring for a patient undergoing chemotherapy.

Disclosure

No conflict of interest exists for anyone in the position to control content for this activity. Wherever possible, generic or non-proprietary names of medications or products have been used.

Educators

Presented by

Alexandra Rivalland View profile

Alex Rivalland works at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Royal Melbourne Hospital as the Graft versus Host Disease Clinical Nurse Consultant and on the haematology and bone marrow transplant ward. Amongst other postgraduate studies she is completing her Masters in Advanced Nursing Practice. Her particular interests are in post-allograft care, optimising and educating carers as well as GvHD management.

Peer reviewed by

Emily Matthews View profile