Episode 377: Creating and Implementing Radiopharmaceutical Policies and Procedures

"Policies help make sure that we're giving patients the right education and discharge instructions. Radiation doesn't end when the syringe is empty. Patients go home with potential radioactive exposure. They need to know how to protect their families, what precautions to take, and what healthcare providers can do if something goes wrong—like a spill, extravasation, or even a pregnant staff member who's involved in the care. This isn't just a documentation exercise. It's about making sure every part of the system speaks the same language when it comes to safety, handling, and patient care," ONS member Ella-Mae Shupe, MSN, RN, OCN^®, nursing practice and professional development specialist for radiation oncology at Johns Hopkins Health System Sydney Kimmel Cancer Center based in Baltimore, MD, told Jaime Weimer, MSN, RN, AGCNS-BS, AOCNS^®, manager of oncology nursing practice at ONS, during a conversation about creating and implementing radiopharmaceutical policies and procedures. 

Music Credit: "Fireflies and Stardust" by Kevin MacLeod 

Licensed under Creative Commons by Attribution 3.0  

Earn 0.5 contact hours of nursing continuing professional development (NCPD) by listening to the full recording and completing an evaluation at courses.ons.org by August 22, 2026. The planners and faculty for this episode have no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose. ONS is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation. 

Learning outcome: Learner will report an increase in knowledge related to implementing policies and procedures to support administration of radiopharmaceuticals for cancer treatment.

Episode Notes  

• Complete this evaluation for free NCPD.
• ONS Podcast™ episodes:
  • Episode 347: Care Considerations for Radiopharmaceuticals and Theranostics in Patients With Cancer
  • Episode 301: Radiation Oncology: Side Effect and Care Coordination Best Practices
  • Episode 298: Radiation Oncology: Nursing's Essential Roles
  • Episode 104: How Radiation Affects All Areas of Oncology Nursing
• ONS Voice articles:
  • New Radiopharmaceutical Improves Survival in Advanced Prostate Cancer
  • Radiopharmaceuticals and Theranostics Offer New Options for Oncology Nurses to Transform Cancer Care
  • Radiopharmaceuticals Pack a One-Two Punch Against Cancer
  • Safety Is Key in Use of Radiopharmaceuticals
• ONS Voice oncology drug reference sheets:
  • Lutetium Lu 177 Dotatate
  • Lutetium Lu 177 Vipivotide Tetraxetan
  • Radium 223 Dichloride
  • Sodium Iodide-131
• ONS book: Manual for Radiation Oncology Nursing Practice and Education (Fifth Edition)
• ONS course: .css-j9qmi7{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;font-weight:700;margin-bottom:1rem;margin-top:2.8rem;width:100%;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:start;justify-content:start;padding-left:5rem;}@media only screen and (max-width: 599px){.css-j9qmi7{padding-left:0;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;justify-content:center;}}.css-j9qmi7 svg{fill:#27292D;}.css-j9qmi7 .eagfbvw0{-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;color:#27292D;}