For each action involving an antineoplastic hazardous drug, identify whether it reduces occupational exposure or is unsafe.
Matrix
Choose your responses, then check the answer.
Explanation
Hazardous-drug protection uses a hierarchy of controls and task-specific policy. During administration, the nurse uses chemotherapy-tested gloves and a protective disposable gown, avoids manipulating drug-containing tubing at the bedside when safer closed or pharmacy-prepared systems are available, and keeps a spill kit accessible. Crushing or opening hazardous oral dosage forms without containment can aerosolize or spread drug residue. Contaminated excreta, linens, waste, and equipment require designated handling and personal protective equipment. A surgical mask or ordinary examination gloves alone may not provide the required protection.
Correct Answer Safe actions minimize drug escape and skin, inhalation, ingestion, or sharps exposure through engineered and PPE controls.
Why It Fits Antineoplastic drugs can harm healthy workers through repeated low-level occupational exposure during many care tasks.
Clinical Picture The required controls depend on the drug formulation and task, so the facility hazard assessment and current list guide practice.
Memory Link Contain the drug, cover the worker, control the spill, and treat waste as contaminated.
NCLEX Rule Use current hazardous-drug identification, engineering controls, task-specific PPE, spill procedures, and safe waste or excreta handling.
Why the Alternatives Fail Bedside crushing, drug priming in the open, or minimal routine PPE increases avoidable environmental and worker contamination.
Sources
1CDC NIOSH Hazardous Drug Exposures in Healthcare
2NIOSH List of Hazardous Drugs in Healthcare Settings 2024
3NCSBN 2026 NCLEX-RN Test Plan
Oncology unitThe nurse prepares to administer an antineoplastic medication identified on the facility hazardous-drug list. The unit follows current NIOSH-based policy for administration, spills, waste, contaminated excreta, and worker reproductive risk.
Hazardous drug — A medication with properties such as carcinogenicity, reproductive toxicity, organ toxicity, or genotoxicity that require special handling.
Chemotherapy-tested glove — A glove tested for resistance to permeation by selected chemotherapy drugs under defined standards.
Hierarchy of controls — A risk-reduction framework prioritizing elimination, engineering, administrative controls, and personal protective equipment.