Cerebellar Assessment for Patients Receiving High-Dose Cytarabine: A Standardized Approach to Nursing Assessment and Documentation

Cerebellar toxicity is a known potential adverse effect of high-dose cytarabine chemotherapy. Oncology nurses are expected to assess patients receiving high-dose cytarabine for cerebellar toxicity prior to administering each dose. Information regarding cerebellar assessment techniques and documentation of findings is limited in the nursing literature. This article provides nurses with a standardized approach for cerebellar function assessment and documentation of assessment finding for patients receiving high-dose cytarabine therapy.