Recognizing Chemotherapy Induced Neurotoxicity: The Use of a Standardized Pathway by Nurses

As pediatric oncologic medicine evolves, chemotherapy-induced neurotoxicity is becoming more prevalent with certain medications. A delay in recognizing neurotoxic effects from medication can lead to detrimental patient health outcomes. Pediatric bedside nurses are at the forefront of recognizing clinical changes in these patients. Moderate-level evidence-based literature shows that education regarding patient decline paired with the proper use of a standardized neurotoxicity grading scale by nurses increases confidence in assessment skills and early recognition of neurotoxic effects leading to better outcomes. Applying Lippitt’s theory of change with consideration of the results of the evidence reviewed, a need for education and the formation of a standardized chemotherapy-induced neurotoxicity pathway was developed and is to be initiated to a population of pediatric oncology nurses (Lippitt et al., 1958). The framework for implementing education using the new standardized follows Deming’s plan, do, check, act model (Taylor et al., 2014).