An oncology nurse’s expertly provided patient education has the potential to revolutionize a patient’s cancer experience. It empowers them with the knowledge and tools to best tolerate and adhere to treatment, manage side effects, and report adverse events immediately. 

After an open-label, multicenter, single-arm trial demonstrated a 56% objective response rate, with 43% achieving complete responses, and an estimated 18.4-month median duration of response, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted glofitamab-gxbm (Columvi™) accelerated approval in June 2023. 

Located on chromosome 2 with 11 exons, BRCA1-associated ring domain (BARD1) is part of the BRCA1/BARD1 protein complex and associated with breast cancer susceptibility. The protein complex enhances ubiquitin ligase activity, which helps regulate centrosome function, repair DNA, and regulate cell cycles to maintain genetic stability. BARD1 interacts with and stabilizes BRCA1 in the repair of double-strand DNA breaks as part of the homologous recombination pathway.

Implementing standardized venous access assessment and validating competency for safe administration of vesicant chemotherapy agents according to practice standards reduces adverse venous events by nearly 80%, ONS members Melissa Arangoa Miller, MS, APRN, ACNS-BC, AOCNS^®, Victoria Frazier-Warmack, DNP, MSN, RN, OCN^®, and Kathrene Castelo, RN, MSN, OCN^®, reported in study findings published in the Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing.

Venous access devices are ubiquitous in nearly every direct care nursing setting. But as technology becomes more complex and new evidence emerges, nurses must evaluate it against their current practice: Should I use saline or heparin to flush this access device? Am I placing this peripheral venous catheter correctly? What does the latest evidence say? Do I need to implement a practice change?