Question 1
What Is the ONS Position on the Education of
Nurses Who Administer and Care for Patients
Receiving Chemotherapy and Biotherapy?
The ONS position “Education of the Nurse Who Administers and Cares
for the Individual Receiving Chemotherapy and Biotherapy” supports the
RN as the appropriate educational level of nurse to administer antineo-
plastic agents and to care for patients receiving these agents (ONS, 2015).
This position is reinforced by the American Society of Clinical Oncol-
ogy (ASCO) in the ASCO/ONS Chemotherapy Administration Safety
Standards, which state that “only qualified physicians, physician assistants,
advanced practice nurses, or registered nurses administer chemotherapy”
(Neuss et al., 2013, p. 229). View the ONS position at www.ons.org.
The ONS and ASCO/ONS educational recommendations do not dif-
ferentiate between treatment indications, clinical settings, routes of admin-
istration, or patient populations. Because of the significant risk profiles
and potential for life-threatening side effects from chemotherapy and bio-
therapy agents, specialized education that includes didactic and practicum
components is necessary for any nurse preparing, handling, transporting,
monitoring, administering, disposing of, or managing spills of these drugs
or caring for patients receiving them.
Each institution or practice setting is responsible for developing poli-
cies and procedures related to chemotherapy education and determination
of clinical competence. Institutional policies and procedures should first
reflect the licensure-based scope of practice and then incorporate ONS and
ASCO/ONS recommendations. Additionally, questions may exist regard-
ing the appropriateness of licensed
practical nurses, licensed vocational
nurses, or unlicensed personnel car- How do other institutions plan
and provide antineoplastic
ing for patients receiving chemo- education for nurses?
therapy. Therefore, each institution or To learn how other institutions or
practice setting should verify with its practices plan chemotherapy and
state board of nursing guidelines for biotherapy education for nurses,
regulatory issues; educational stipula- visit the ONS Chemotherapy and
Biotherapy Community’s virtual
tions; and practice parameters related discussion board, which is acces-
sible to ONS members at www
.ons.org.
2 | ONS Clinical Top 20
Copyright by Oncology Nursing Society. All rights reserved.
What Is the ONS Position on the Education of
Nurses Who Administer and Care for Patients
Receiving Chemotherapy and Biotherapy?
The ONS position “Education of the Nurse Who Administers and Cares
for the Individual Receiving Chemotherapy and Biotherapy” supports the
RN as the appropriate educational level of nurse to administer antineo-
plastic agents and to care for patients receiving these agents (ONS, 2015).
This position is reinforced by the American Society of Clinical Oncol-
ogy (ASCO) in the ASCO/ONS Chemotherapy Administration Safety
Standards, which state that “only qualified physicians, physician assistants,
advanced practice nurses, or registered nurses administer chemotherapy”
(Neuss et al., 2013, p. 229). View the ONS position at www.ons.org.
The ONS and ASCO/ONS educational recommendations do not dif-
ferentiate between treatment indications, clinical settings, routes of admin-
istration, or patient populations. Because of the significant risk profiles
and potential for life-threatening side effects from chemotherapy and bio-
therapy agents, specialized education that includes didactic and practicum
components is necessary for any nurse preparing, handling, transporting,
monitoring, administering, disposing of, or managing spills of these drugs
or caring for patients receiving them.
Each institution or practice setting is responsible for developing poli-
cies and procedures related to chemotherapy education and determination
of clinical competence. Institutional policies and procedures should first
reflect the licensure-based scope of practice and then incorporate ONS and
ASCO/ONS recommendations. Additionally, questions may exist regard-
ing the appropriateness of licensed
practical nurses, licensed vocational
nurses, or unlicensed personnel car- How do other institutions plan
and provide antineoplastic
ing for patients receiving chemo- education for nurses?
therapy. Therefore, each institution or To learn how other institutions or
practice setting should verify with its practices plan chemotherapy and
state board of nursing guidelines for biotherapy education for nurses,
regulatory issues; educational stipula- visit the ONS Chemotherapy and
Biotherapy Community’s virtual
tions; and practice parameters related discussion board, which is acces-
sible to ONS members at www
.ons.org.
2 | ONS Clinical Top 20
Copyright by Oncology Nursing Society. All rights reserved.
