A flow sheet for follow-up after chemotherapy extravasation.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To introduce and describe the development and implementation of a flow sheet used to document patient follow-up after chemotherapy extravasation.

DATA SOURCES

Published articles, institutional standards of nursing practice, and the Oncology Nursing Society Cancer Chemotherapy Guidelines.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Extravasation is a potentially serious and severe complication of vesicant chemotherapy administration. A tool was designed to streamline documentation of patient symptoms, nursing interventions, patient education, and follow-up care after a suspected or actual extravasation.

CONCLUSIONS

The flow sheet improves nursing documentation after a suspected or actual vesicant chemotherapy extravasation and provides a consistent, concise method for monitoring extravasations over time.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE

The flow sheet standardizes nursing assessment, intervention, patient education, and follow-up care after a suspected or actual chemotherapy extravasation. Use of the flow sheet saves time and improves consistency of nursing documentation.