Clinical Updates in Nausea and Vomiting

Objective: To review recent updated antiemetic guidelines from national cancer organizations and its impact on chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) in the prevention and delayed phase of therapy. This article will also describe assessment and nursing strategies for individualized care and timely side effect management.

Data sources: Data sources include peer-reviewed articles sourced in electronic databases.

Conclusion: CINV is a persistent problem for a large percentage of patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment despite advances in antiemetic therapy and increased use of targeted therapies. CINV management should be based on patient-focused assessment and adherence to national antiemetic guidelines. Ongoing assessment and follow-up are critical to ensure optimum management of side effects to optimized quality of life.

Implications for nursing practice: Awareness of national antiemetic guidelines is important in caring for patients undergoing chemotherapy. CINV can have a significant impact on patients, causing physical effects, treatment delays, and diminished quality of life. Oncology nurses play a key role in assessment of patient-related risk factors, education of patients and caregivers regarding pain medications, side effects, and oral adherence and continued follow-up for early recognition and intervention for uncontrolled CINV.