It is evident that the chemotherapy drugs – also referred to as the antineoplastic drugs or anticancer drugs or agents – are highly hazardous to the health of people in the case of exposure. Repeated exposure has chronic effects that even affect mutation and the reproductive system. Many organizations have come forth to formulate standards towards ensuring the safety of medical practitioners with regards to the handling of the hazardous drugs. However, many nurses and health care workers do not fully adhere to these standards hence leading to exposure. Since these drugs need total adherence to the criteria, this has effects on the nurse’s health. It is, therefore, necessary to address the problem of safe handling and formulate an effective
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According to Polit and Henderson, “Self-care is the practice of activities that individuals initiate and perform on their own behalf in maintaining life, health, and well-being. Each individual has the ability to perform self-care, and are responsible for their own health and the health of their dependents” (Cardinal Stritch University Library, 2011). In Dorethea Orem’s Self-Care theory, the author has implied that it is the nurses’ role to help maintain an adequate and effective level of self-care among their patients. This framework has become a foundation for middle range theories that are related to issues like patient autonomy, patient-directed care and patient’s development of self-care skills (Masters, 2011). However, Orem’s theory could also be applied to nurses. “You cannot keep giving to others if you do not give to yourself, first” (Lobell, 2001). Nurses are taught to care for others; it is intrinsic in their life purpose yet, nurses are often reluctant on caring for themselves and are having difficulty finding time and tend to their own needs. Nurses should assure and foster their individual security to efficiently attend to their patients and perform at an optimal level. Protecting themselves from the adverse effects of these hazardous chemotherapy agents by
According to Polit and Henderson, “Self-care is the practice of activities that individuals initiate and perform on their own behalf in maintaining life, health, and well-being. Each individual has the ability to perform self-care, and are responsible for their own health and the health of their dependents” (Cardinal Stritch University Library, 2011). In Dorethea Orem’s Self-Care theory, the author has implied that it is the nurses’ role to help maintain an adequate and effective level of self-care among their patients. This framework has become a foundation for middle range theories that are related to issues like patient autonomy, patient-directed care and patient’s development of self-care skills (Masters, 2011). However, Orem’s theory could also be applied to nurses. “You cannot keep giving to others if you do not give to yourself, first” (Lobell, 2001). Nurses are taught to care for others; it is intrinsic in their life purpose yet, nurses are often reluctant on caring for themselves and are having difficulty finding time and tend to their own needs. Nurses should assure and foster their individual security to efficiently attend to their patients and perform at an optimal level. Protecting themselves from the adverse effects of these hazardous chemotherapy agents by