Take Advantage of Free CE Through APNA’s Opioid Course

The American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA) recently published three webinar courses that provide free CE to RNs, APRNs, and psychiatric-mental health nurses. The courses focus on the opioid epidemic that has taken hold in the United States. These courses aim to answer the question, “What can nurses do?” ONS was asked to review the series and provide feedback on content and applicability to practice.

Colleen O'Leary

September 2016

Addressing the Challenge of CAUTI Prevention When Safety is at Stake

From the day you began your career as an oncology nurse, it is quite likely that two main principles were ingrained into every aspect of your training and practice: infection prevention for our very susceptible patient population and using safe handling to reduce the risk of exposure to chemotherapy and other hazardous agents.

Learning More About Point-of-Care Practices for Neutropenia

There is no doubt in the mind of oncology nurses that infection prevention is paramount to providing safe, quality cancer care. Neutropenic precautions have long been integrated into the plan of care for patients whose immune system are compromised due to cancer or cancer treatment.

Improving Access to Care Is a Priority to the Cancer Moonshot

In 1965, the monthly cost of cancer care was $100. By 2013, that number had risen to nearly $10,000. The skyrocketing cost of cancer drugs has, in part, played a major role in limiting access to care for patients with cancer. But money isn’t the only barrier: Location of treatment centers, lack of transportation, socioeconomic challenges, along with myriad cultural differences can play into the ways patients do—or don’t—access care.

Maintenance Treatment May Prolong Progression-Free Survival in Ovarian Cancer

Although response rates to chemotherapy are high, 90% of ovarian cancers will recur within two years. A new drug called niraparib is under investigation as maintenance treatment between cycles of platinum-based chemotherapy, and findings from phase III trials have shown promise.

Surgery Prolongs Survival for Patients With NSCLC

Patients with late-stage non-small cell lung cancer who have surgery have better survival rates than those who don’t, according to the results of a recent study published in the Annals of Thoracic Surgery. The researchers also reported that despite the improved survival from surgery, fewer patients are receiving the treatment.

Does the Sequence of Chemotherapy and Biotherapy Agents Matter?

Sequencing of cancer treatment regimens is based on multiple factors, including the pharmacokinetic properties of the agents in the regimen and their effectiveness based on cell-cycle specificity. Because of potential interactions and effects, some regimens have critically important administration sequencing.

Representing ONS for Palliative Care Legislation

By Fran Fanning, RN, BS, OCN

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