Profile of nurses working in chemotherapeutic oncology departments in Sohag governorate

ABSTRACT

The aim of this descriptive study is to determine the individual and professional characteristics of the oncology nurse, their working condition. Status and actual usage of safety measures while handiling cytotoxic drugs in their daily work surrounding. A self-evaluation questionnaire divided in three parts developed by the investigator after review of the literature. A total of 29 murses participated in the survey [2 male and 27 females]. The mean age of the nurses was [22.0 +/- 3.2] in hospital 1.2 compared with hospital 3 was [25.0 +/- 4.3], the majority of nurses [86.2]% were secondary school nursing graduate and the rest had a technical of nurses [13.8%]. In the 55.2% of all participants had from 1-5 years experience. [72.4%] of participant always preparing and administering of chemotherapeutic drugs. 55.2% of them exposure to needle stick in the last 6 months from 1-3 times. The mean weekly work hours was [55.0] in hospital 1, [72.0] in hospital 2, [44.6] in hospital 3, mean number of patients receiving care at day time and night in hospital 1, 2, 3 were 29.0 +/- 2.215.0 +/- 1.3;35.0 +/- 11.6 and 25.0 +/- 46.0;5.1 +/- 1.1.mean daily chemotherapy preparation and administration period were 24.4 +/- 45.9,20.0 +/- 7.9;26.3 +/- 6.1,20.0 +/- 7.5.38.0 +/- 12.0 in hospital 1, 2, 3 respectively. The result of this study revealed that the level of knowledge of nurses concerning the tumor and antineoplastic hazards was satisfactory. However, the items concerning the skills when handling the drugs and use personal protective equipment while handling and administering antineoplastic agents to prevent occupational hazarde was unsatisfactory