Three real-life examples of how AHN Saint Vincent infusion nurses saved lives

By Christine Simmons, AHN Cancer Institute at Saint Vincent

At the AHN Cancer Institute at Saint Vincent, the infusion nurse’s primary objective is to administer the prescribed treatment to our cancer patients safely.

Safe practices go beyond how we handle the hazardous drugs. A complete physical assessment is a key component to safe practices. Patients can have life threatening conditions in addition to toxicities from treatments or disease progression. If the nurse is not assessing for these conditions, the outcomes can be detrimental.

Three AHN Saint Vincent infusion nurses have displayed how important the head-to-toe assessment is for our oncology patients by recognizing potentially life-threatening issues during physical assessments prior to treatments.

Matt Anderson, R.N., recognized an abnormal heart rate and bilateral 2+ edema of lower extremities. When evaluated in the emergency department, the patient had a pulmonary embolism requiring emergency embolectomy.

Theresa Craig, R.N., C.M.S.R.N, Theresa Fachetti Kyser, B.S.N, R.N, Mary Beth Kroemer, M.S.N., R.N., C.R.N.I.-Nurse Manager Infusion and Medical Oncology, Matthew Anderson, B.S.N., R.N.,

Theresa Craig, R.N., identi ed diminished lung sounds associated with a decreased oxygen saturation in a patient who, when evaluated in the emergency department, had a large pleural e usion, needing drained and chest tube insertion.

Theresa Fachetti Kyser, R.N., recognized a patient experiencing what the patient thought were cold symptoms and shortness of breath. The patient also had coarse breath sounds throughout the lung elds. When sent for testing and imaging, the patient was found to have COVID pneumonia and was hospitalized for several days.

These examples highlight the importance of assessing our patients and exercising good clinical judgement in reporting abnormal ndings. A physical assessment is a part of routine nursing care and is expected at every patient encounter.