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Hi everyone
I am posting a video below on Neutropenic Sepsis that has kindly been provided by Clare Dikken, Macmillan Senior Chemotherapy Nurse of the Sussex Cancer Network in the United Kingdom.
Clare writes:
'Neutropenic sepsis is a life threatening side effect of chemotherapy; patients are still dying from this complication of treatment and these deaths are largely preventable. Audits within the Sussex Cancer Network in England reveal that many patients are admitted to and treated in non-specialist areas, there are delays to diagnosis i.e. long turn around times for blood tests, delays to first dose of intravenous antibiotics and the neutropenic sepsis policy at times is not followed. Many of the non-specialist staff have never received any training on the diagnosis and treatment of neutropenic sepsis. This video on neutropenic sepsis was developed with a grant from Macmillan Cancer Support to fill this educational gap.'
All feedback and comments are gratefully received (either replying to this thread or contacting Clare via the Contact form on the Sussex Cancer Network website).
Edited: Nov 14, 2008 @ 1.49pm
I have just watched your video on neutropenic sepsis and found it excellent. I am compiling information for teaching student nurses and have previously highlighted CancerNursing.org as a valuable resource. Neutropenic sepsis is something that happens often in haematology, and your video highlights the importance of immediate action. Thankyou so much.
Kathleen Hay
Edited: Sep 23, 2008 @ 11.17am
I work in the oncology ward and so patients come direct to us too. The video emphasised the importance of slick treatment and how the patient had been feeling unwell several hours before that first dose of antibiotics. Keep up this new learning programme I think it is a great format. Staff Nurse Derriford Hosp, Plymouth
Hi Kathleen and Kirsty
Thank you. But I think the real thanks should go to Clare and the team at the Sussex Cancer Network for developing the video and Macmillan for funding it.
We are delighted to host these type of resources so that as many nurses can access them as possible - wherever they are located in the world. So, if anyone has any similar resources just let us know by using the 'Contact us' form.
Best wishes
Ray
This is an excellent resource for training about the risks of post chemotherapy sepsis. It gets over well the risks of poor or inadequate management and I'm sure will be a help especially for those in non specialised oncology or haematology areas. However even for specialised areas it should help empower nurses to chase (if need be) medical staff to get antibiotics prescribed and patients fully assessed as soon as they arrive at the hospital. Perhaps this should be a video shown to all staff, medical and nursing anywhere in the country where chemotherapy patients may turn up. It would be 12 minutes very well spent.
I would also suggest something similar, with a less health care professional approach for patients too. Those working long enough in oncology will have experienced how a lack of perception by patients of the risks of infection, have ended in life threatening sepsis by the time they do present. This of course is understandable even with guidance/education from the chemo nurse, as it cannot be possible to imagine how awful things can become unless you have seen/lived it. A similar video could help, hopefully focusing on the benifits of early recognition rather than scaring the patient completely.
Thank you for posting your informative video. I am the clinical educator in our emergency department and despite a "water tight" neutropenic Sepsis policy patients do slip through the cracks due to heavy workload on our staff etc. I will advice my staff to view the video to reiterate the consequences of not treating this condition with the seriousness it deserves. This video has global meaning, thanks
Cheers Yvonne Muir
Clinical Nurse Educator
Mersey Community Hospital
Latrobe Tasmania
Edited: Sep 24, 2008 @ 2.49am
Hi Gwen
It may be an issue with your internet connection. Could you press play and then immediately press pause and wait a couple of minutes while the file begins to stream to your computer. Then press play and see if this helps.
Can you try this and let me know. You can use the 'Contact us' page to get in touch with me if you prefer.
Very best wishes
Ray