This course has been approved for 6 clock hours by the Commission on Case Manager Certification from January 1, 2006 through December 31, 2008.

The purpose of this course is to provide nurses with an overview of the basic concepts of cancer and a basic foundation in the nursing care of adult patients receiving chemotherapy.

When you complete this course, you will be able to:

1. Discuss three myths about cancer.
2. Identify two phases of cancer development.
3. List the three major forms of cancer treatment and whether their effects are local or systemic.
4. Define adjuvant chemotherapy.
5. Describe the rationale for combination chemotherapy and the schedule of administration requiring repeated administration of the drugs.
6. Identify three guidelines for the nurse administering chemotherapy intravenously.
7. Given a patient situation where combination chemotherapy is being administered, list one point each for patient education specific to mucositis, alopecia, and peripheral neurotoxicity.
8. Discuss two nursing interventions each for the patient experiencing granulocytopenia and thrombocytopenia.
9. Identify mechanisms of nausea and vomiting related to physiological causes and anticipatory anxiety.
10. List four aspects of a nursing assessment of the patient’s psychosocial status in relation to chemotherapy.