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Oncologic pharmacology: selected topics for critical care nurses
AACN Clinical Issues
|February 1, 1996
Summary
Experienced critical care nurses can optimize cancer patient care by understanding how physiological factors affect medication response. This overview covers essential nursing considerations for chemotherapy, biotherapy, and antiemetic drug administration in oncology patients.
Area of Science:
- Oncology Nursing
- Critical Care Pharmacology
- Cancer Therapeutics
Background:
- Managing complex medication regimens is standard in intensive care units.
- Patients with cancer present unique challenges in pharmacologic therapy due to individual responses and specific drug types.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide critical care nurses with a concise overview of key nursing considerations in pharmacologic therapy for cancer patients.
- To highlight the influence of physiological variables on medication efficacy and patient outcomes in oncology.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature and clinical practices in cancer pharmacotherapy.
- Discussion of physiological factors impacting drug response in cancer patients.
- Detailed examination of chemotherapy, biotherapy, and antiemetic drug classes.
Main Results:
- Physiological variables significantly alter how cancer patients respond to pharmaceutical agents.
- Understanding these variables is crucial for effective medication management.
- Specific nursing knowledge is required for administering chemotherapy, biotherapy, and antiemetics.
Conclusions:
- Critical care nurses require specialized knowledge for pharmacologic management of cancer patients.
- Addressing physiological influences and understanding specific drug classes are vital for optimizing patient care and outcomes.