ONCOLOGY NURSES AND OCCUPATIONAL HAZARDS

Chemotherapy is an important part of cancer treatments. In which cytotoxic drugs are used to cure patients. Where as these drugs are therapeutic to patients, they can be toxic to health care providers handling them. Among health care providers, oncology nurses have the responsibility regarding the preparation and administration of antineoplastic drugs. The risk factors associated with antineoplastic drugs are unknown in health care providers, but many researchers have found that exposure to antineoplastic drugs, without protection can lead to health problems such as headache, dizziness, nausea, letargy, hair loss, allergic reactions, liver fibrosis, leukemia, reproductive disorders like infertility, fetal loss, premature birth, DNA damages and other problems. On the other hand, antineoplastic drugs can be mutagenic, teratogenic and carcinogenic. Hence, providing adequate protection against cytotoxic drugs is essential for nurses and any one who works in chemotherapy unit. key elements for safely handling of these drugs are: education of personnel about the adverse effects of cytotoxic drugs and proper exposure to these drugs, use of protective equipment such as biological safety cabinet (vertical laminar flow cabinet) and full apparel which consist of gloves, gown, face mask and eye spectacles and consideration of standard guidelines for safe handling of cytotoxic drugs.