Ambulatory Care - Chemotherapy Day Unit
Ambulatory Care - Chemotherapy Day Unit - Peter Mac Cancer Centre
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| Chemotherapy Day Unit Nurse Unit Manager: Michael Cooney About our unit | ||||
| The CDU provides expert nursing care and support to patients and their families in administration of cytotoxic and anti-cancer chemo-biological therapies and associated supportive therapies as part of Peter Mac’s multidisciplinary care approach within a friendly, modern, 22-chair, 2 bed, ambulatory care setting. The unit treats patients within all tumour streams and at all stages in a patient disease and illness trajectory using leading edge medical and nursing technologies. The unit operates Monday to Friday (including most Public Holidays) from 8am – 7pm. The unit has a significant clinical research profile with a large proportion of patients receiving treatment within clinical trials, using novel agents. | ||||
| Staffing Profile | ||||
| Patient care is delivered by nursing staff with specialist qualifications and experience in chemotherapy administration and cancer nursing, supported by expert administrative and patient services support staff. The unit has access to a full range of allied health, pastoral care, social work and psychological support services. Medical care and treatment reviews are provided within the unit by consultant medical oncologists and haematologist as well as Registrars and Medical Fellows working within specialist medical oncology and haematology training programs. | ||||
| Staff Development & Support | ||||
| The CDU is linked into a number of nursing development and education programs which support the development of skills and expertise in the care of the person receiving cytotoxic and anti-cancer bio-chemotherapies. CDU nursing staff share their expertise through contribution to the Peter Mac Callum education and training programs (particularly the chemotherapy education modules) as well as through consultation to and participation in hospital committees and working groups. Staff are supported in undertaking postgraduate cancer nursing studies (for both Div 1 and Div 2 RNs) and have access to a wide range of short courses run through the nursing education department at Peter Mac. | ||||
| Quote from staff on unit | ||||
| “I’m so glad to have the opportunity to work in a unit where I can get such a broad experience of nursing care, work with expert clinicians from so many different fields and have access to great education and professional development opportunities as part of a fun and supportive team” Amanda RN |
