A model of chemotherapy education for novice oncology nurses that supports a culture of safety.

Chemotherapy education at a mid-sized community hospital was redesigned to help novice oncology nurses improve patient safety and their own practice by implementing error prevention techniques during chemotherapy administration. Using a proactive approach with multidisciplinary participation and open communication, a systems analysis was conducted to identify potential chemotherapy errors. Then, chemotherapy processes were devised or strengthened to avoid errors. The project required a philosophical shift from error measurement to safety promotion.