Developing Infrastructure: Managing Patients With Cancer Undergoing CAR T-Cell Therapy

Background: The introduction of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has created challenges and opportunities for nurses. Clinical nurses must be educated on new treatment modalities to recognize toxicity symptoms and to support the therapy moving forward.

Objectives: This article will discuss nursing leadership and interventions to standardize care and ensure patient safety while receiving CAR T cells.

Methods: Using evolving experience, an interprofessional team created standards of care and identified common toxicities and best practices for their management. Electronic documentation forms were designed, which led to the development of a new research infrastructure to care for patients.

Findings: The ability to safely manage patients on CAR T-cell treatments has improved. The new infrastructure supported clinicians and scientists in transforming the outcomes of diseases with bleak prognoses, which is possible only with strong nursing leadership.