Oncology nurses and advanced practice providers (APPs) are interested in learning about naloxone, says Gretchen McNally PhD, ANP-BC, AOCN.

McNally, who is a nurse practitioner in hematology at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC), recently shared findings from a single-center study at the 47th Oncology Nursing Society Congress. McNally and colleagues evaluated oncology provider’s knowledge and perception of naloxone and opioid use disorders.

Findings demonstrated that most respondents would be open to receiving training on naloxone and would feel comfortable administering naloxone with that training. For example, most nurses (64.2%; n = 309) and APPs (60.1%; n = 104) expressed interest in naloxone training classes.

Providing educational materials on opioid abuse and treatment strategies would position oncology nurses and APPs in a role to identify and address opioid use disorders in patients with cancer. Regarding the use of naloxone, McNally notes that although it is similar to a fire extinguisher in that it should only be used in emergencies, it is a great example of an opportunity to reduce harm to patients.

The insights gained through this study present an opportunity to develop innovative strategies to train health care providers and nurses, McNally says. These professionals can also take the skills learned in the clinic setting and bring them to the wider community, McNally adds.

“As an oncology nurse or provider, you [may] not really think that addiction affects your patients, [but] it affects so many people, and if we can just make a small difference and save 1 life, we’re making an impact.”

Videos

Gretchen McNally PhD, ANP-BC, AOCN, spotlights the value that naloxone training for oncology nurses and providers could have for patients who are at a high-risk of overdose. 

Gretchen McNally Speaks to the Role of Oncology Nurses in the Opioid Epidemic

Although 70% of nurses agreed that implicit bias negatively impacts the care that patients receive, the number of nurses who believe that they are personally affected by implicit bias is much smaller, explained Gretchen A. McNally, PhD, ANP-BC, AOCNP, James Cancer Hospital & Solove Research Institute.

McNally recently spoke to Oncology Nursing News® about their research assessing substance abuse disorder-related implicit bias in oncology nursing. McNally noted that, in survey responses, many nurses did not believe they themselves, were impacted by implicit bias, although they answered that their colleagues may be.

“The first question was, does stereotype or bias impact the quality of life that patients receive, and then the next question was actually specific to the person themselves and they were asked ‘ [Am I] certain I treat all persons the same regardless of current or past opioid use disorder?’ And about 70% of nurses and 50 % of APPS agreed or strongly agreed that they felt that they treated all patients the same regardless of their history of opioid use disorder.

“I felt that was interesting because while more participants recognized that yes, bias does impact care, they did not [feel] that that applied to them, that while it does affect some people, not the care that they deliver, so they were kind of blind that they may also have or be impacted by implicit bias.”

A survey completed by nurses and APPs revealed that many healthcare professionals may be blind to their own implicit biases. 

Gretchen A. McNally, PhD, ANP-BC, AOCNP

Articles

Gretchen McNally Speaks to the Role of Oncology Nurses in the Opioid Epidemic

Nurses May Fail to Recognize Their Own Implicit Bias, Survey Says