Clinical journal of oncology nursing
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Neutropenic fever is an oncologic emergency that requires prompt assessment and treatment with antibiotics. Although the term "prompt" is not defined in numbers of minutes in the biomedical literature, the literature does indicate that the sooner antibiotics are initiated, the greater the likelihood of a positive clinical outcome. ⋯ A multidisciplinary team charted the existing admission process and identified three areas for improvement: (a) inpatient orders, (b) the admission communication process, and (c) multidisciplinary staff accountability. Following implementation, the hematology and oncology clinical nurse specialist completed a chart review of all patients with febrile neutropenia, which revealed a nearly 50% reduction in cycle time on the inpatient unit.