Nurses' Guide to Understanding and Implementing the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Guidelines for Myeloid Growth Factors

Purpose/Objectives: To review and determine the applicability of the 2006 National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) clinical practice guidelines for the use of myeloid growth factors in adult patients treated with chemotherapy for solid tumors and nonmyeloid malignancies.

Data Sources: Published guidelines, original research, review articles, and conference presentations.

Data Synthesis: Chemotherapy-induced neutropenia is a common adverse effect of myelosuppressive chemotherapy that may lead to life-threatening infections, prolonged hospitalization, increased IV antibiotic use, and dose reductions or delays that affect patients' quality of life and clinical outcomes.

Conclusions: Before treatment begins, nurses should determine which patients are at greater risk for chemotherapy-induced neutropenia and implement an appropriate plan of care.

Implications for Nursing: Nurses are in an ideal position to implement a risk assessment tool and play an integral role in directing the quality of patient care. Implementing the NCCN guidelines is one way to facilitate standardization of care.