ONS Chemotherapy and Biotherapy Course

General Information
The Oncology Nursing Society’s (ONS) Chemotherapy and Biotherapy Course provides a comprehensive review of the knowledge needed to administer cytotoxic and biotherapeutic agents.

Upon successful completion of the course and post-test, participants will receive an ONS Chemotherapy and Biotherapy Provider Card. This card validates the participant has the theoretical foundation needed to administer cytotoxic and biotherapeutic agents.  This card is valid for two years.

Course Objectives Upon completion of the course, the participant will be able to:

• Identify various therapeutic modalities used to treat cancer with emphasis on chemotherapy and biotherapy.
• Describe the investigational process all drugs undergo to gain approval for use.
• Review ethical and legal issues related to cancer therapy.
• Identify factors affecting response to cancer therapy.
• Identify selected commonly used agents, their mechanisms of action, and any unique administration issues.
• Discuss safety precautions necessary when handling cytotoxic agents.
• Review chemotherapy dose calculation and practice examples.
• Identify nursing procedures and interventions for administering cytotoxic and biologic agents.
• Discuss two immediate complications of cancer therapy, extravasation and hypersensitivity, and the nursing measures required to prevent and/or reduce these complications
• Identify selected systematic side effects and the nursing interventions required to manage these side effects.
• Review patient and family education that may prevent and/or reduce impact of side effects.

Course Fee: UWMC/SCCA Employees:  $120
Non-Employees:  $240

The course fee includes all course materials, copy of the Chemotherapy and Biotherapy Guidelines and Recommendation for Practice, 2nd Ed., and Continuing Nursing Education Credits.

Target Audience:
Participants must be licensed registered nurses who have been employed as such for a minimum of six moths. This course content is appropriate for nurses who are new to chemotherapy administration, as well as for those who want a comprehensive review.

Continuing Nursing Education Credit:

• ONS will award 13.5 contact hours to nurses who attend this program in its entirety.
• ONS is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.
• ONS is approved as a provider of continuing nursing education by the California State Board of Registered Nursing, Provider No. 2580

Additional Information:
The ONS Chemotherapy and Biotherapy Course is NOT a certification course, and is not intended to measure competency. Individual institutions are responsible for determining their own requirements for assessing clinical competency.

Upcoming course dates: November 20-21, 2008

For more information on the upcoming November class, please contact:

Shelley Moore, M.Ed.
SCCA Staff Education Program Manager
206-288-6653 or smoore@seattlecca.org