#438: Chemo Basics

Chemo. Just the word alone can feel a little intimidating, right? But don’t worry. This episode breaks it all the way down so you can walk into the hospital (or your next exam) feeling calm, confident, and prepared. In this episode, we’re covering the essential nursing care for patients undergoing chemotherapy, including: What chemo is and how it works The nurse’s role before, during, and after administration What “chemo precautions” actually mean (hint: double gloves are just the beginning) Common side effects like myelosuppression, mucositis, and chemo brain—plus how to manage them How to prevent infection and what to do in a neutropenic fever emergency (this is high-priority NCLEX content, by the way) If the thought of cytotoxic drugs and yellow waste bins has you feeling a little unsure, this episode is your safety net. Hit play and I’ll see you there! ___________________ Full Transcript - Read the article and view references FREE CLASS - If all you've heard are nursing school horror stories, then you need this class! Join me in this on-demand session where I dispel all those nursing school myths and show you that YES...you can thrive in nursing school without it taking over your life! Study Sesh - Change the way you study with this private podcast that includes dynamic audio formats including podquizzes, case studies and drills that help you review and test your recall of important nursing concepts on-the-go. Free yourself from your desk with Study Sesh!  Med Surg Solution - Are you looking for a more effective way to learn Med Surg? Enroll in Med Surg Solution and get lessons on 57 key topics and out-of-this-world study guides.  Confident Calculations - Learn a foolproof method for performing dosage calculations so you can pass your nursing school math exams on the first try! Crucial Concepts Bootcamp - Start nursing school ahead of the game, or reset after a difficult first semester with my nursing school prep course, Crucial Concepts Bootcamp. Learn key foundation concepts, organization and time management, dosage calculations, and so much more. Dosage Calculations Guide - Kick math anxiety to the curb and learn the basics of how to set up and perform dosage calculations using dimensional analysis with this FREE guide. Includes 10 free practice questions! Straight A Nursing App - Study on-the-go with the Straight A Nursing app! Review more than 5,000 flashcards covering a wide range of subjects including Fundamentals, Pediatrics, Med Surg, Mental Health, Maternal Newborn, and more! Available for free in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Pharmacology Success Pack - Want to get a head start on pharmacology? Download the FREE Pharmacology Success Pack.  💕Did you love this episode? Please take a moment to follow or subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode! ___________________ The information, including but not limited to, audio, video, text, and graphics contained on this podcast are for educational purposes only. No content on this podcast is intended to guide nursing practice and does not supersede any individual healthcare provider's scope of practice or any nursing school curriculum. Additionally, no content on this podcast is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Straight A Nursing is a proud member of the Airwave Media Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices