Administração segura de antineoplásicos: limites e possibilidades das práticas dos profissionais de enfermagem

Objective: To characterize the practice of administering antineoplastic chemotherapy by nursing professionals in two outpatient units of public hospitals in the Federal District. Method: Mixed method study carried out through semi-structured interviews with 32 nursing professionals, nurses and nursing technicians, to identify compliance and non-compliance of the adopted procedures. Results: Half of the nurses and nursing technicians did not receive specific training for the administration of antineoplastic drugs and the practices observed showed non-compliance in most cases, although both nurses and nursing technicians claimed to know the protocols for administering antineoplastic drugs. Conclusion: Institutions with antineoplastic therapy administration services lack previous and continuous training of their nursing professionals and the evaluation and monitoring of care behaviors. Nursing professionals have knowledge about safe care practices for this patient, however, adherence to safety measures proved to be unsatisfactory.