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Clark C How can we protect cancer nurses from exposure to hazardous drugs?. Br J Nurs. 2021; 30:(4)S16-S20 https://doi.org/10.12968/bjon.2021.30.4.S16

Clark C The need to protect cancer nurses from exposure to hazardous drugs. Br J Nurs. 2022; 31:(17)S6-S10 https://doi.org/10.12968/bjon.2022.31.17.S6

Clark C Taking steps to protect cancer nurses from exposure to hazardous drugs. Br J Nurs. 2023; 32:(10)S4-S8 https://doi.org/10.12968/bjon.2023.32.10.S4

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Oncology

Occupational exposure to hazardous cancer drugs: protecting nurses through practice, products and research

19 September 2024
Meeting Report
02 September 2024
Volume 33 · Issue 17

More than 300 people joined the fifth annual webinar discussing the results of research into occupational exposure of nurses to hazardous drugs and the protective role of closed system transfer devices (CSTDs).

The webinar, held on 18 April 2024, was organised by Aesculap Academia, the educational arm of B Braun Medical. Earlier webinars in this series have been reported in previous British Journal of Nursing oncology supplements (Clark, 2021a; 2021b; 2022; 2023).

The programme included research findings on occupational exposure to cytotoxic agents, a case study on the implementation of closed systems for the administration of systemic anti-cancer therapy (SACT), an update on the PeCan study and tips on preparing a business case for closed systems.

Co-chair Naomi Clatworthy, acute oncology nurse consultant at Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, launched the webinar with an audience poll that showed that 63% of respondents were ‘very concerned’ about the health effects of hazardous drugs. Co-chair Mark Foulkes, nurse consultant and Macmillan lead at the Royal Berkshire Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said that this ‘shows the level of worry’ among nurses.

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