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Handling Hazardous Drugs Safely: Many Angles, One Focus

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this activity, pharmacists will be able to:

• Explain how having knowledge about exposure to hazardous drugs (HDs) relates to the use of precautions when handling HDs

• Describe the relationship between perceived risk of harm from HD exposure and adoption of established precautions

• List work practices, personal protective equipment, and ancillary devices recommended for improved safety in the handling of HDs

• Identify barriers that may impede a worker from using HD precautions

• Discuss the importance of collaboration with non-pharmacy workers in implementing facility-wide safe handling procedures for HD

Upon completion of this activity, pharmacy technicians will be able to:

• Describe the relationship between handling hazardous drugs (HDs) in the workplace and health risks to exposed workers
• Recall key recommendations and mandates from guidelines for safe HD handling
• Identify specific areas of exposure that affect the risk of healthcare workers when handling HDs
• List work practices, personal protective equipment, and ancillary devices recommended for improved safety in the handling of HDs
• Identify barriers that may impede a worker from using HD precautions

Faculty

Martha Polovich, PhD, RN, AOCN
Associate Director, Clinical Practice
Duke Oncology Network
Durham, North Carolina

Luci A. Power, MS, RPh
Senior Pharmacy Consultant
Power Enterprises
San Francisco, California

Disclosure

It is the policy of ProCE to require the disclosure of the existence of any significant financial interest or any other relationship a faculty member or a sponsor has with the manufacturer of any commercial product(s) discussed in an educational presentation. Dr. Polovich reports serving as a speaker and/or consultant for ICU Medical, Inc. Ms. Power reports having no relevant affiliations or financial relationships.

Please note: The opinions expressed in this activity should not be construed as those of the CE provider, ICU Medical, Inc., or Hospira, Inc. The information and views are those of the faculty through clinical practice and knowledge of the professional literature. Portions of this activity may include the use of drugs for unlabeled indications. Use of drugs outside of labeling should be considered experimental and participants are advised to consult prescribing information and professional literature.

CE Accreditation

Release Date: 02-15-2011

Expiration Date: 02-15-2014

Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians
ProCE, Inc. is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. ACPE Universal Activity Number 221-000-11-016-H05-P/T has been assigned to this knowledge-based home-study CE activity (initial release date 02-15-11). This activity is approved for 1.5 contact hours (0.15 CEUs) in states that recognize ACPE providers. The activity is provided at no cost to participants. Statements of credit will be issued online upon completion of the activity evaluation and the post-test with a score of 70% or higher. No partial credit will be given.

Funding

This activity was supported by an unrestricted educational grant from ICU Medical, Inc., and Hospira, Inc.