For a patient undergoing chemotherapy, what common side effect should the nurse monitor for?

Monitoring for neutropenia is essential for a patient undergoing chemotherapy due to the effects of chemotherapy on bone marrow function. Chemotherapy drugs target rapidly dividing cells, which include not only cancer cells but also normal cells in the bone marrow that produce blood cells. This often leads to a significant reduction in white blood cells, specifically neutrophils, which are crucial for fighting infections.

Neutropenia increases the patient's risk for infections, which can be life-threatening and may impede the continuation of chemotherapy treatment. Therefore, it is critical for nurses to assess the patient's white blood cell count regularly and watch for signs of infection, such as fever, chills, or other unusual symptoms.

While other side effects like anemia, nausea and vomiting, and hair loss are also common and require monitoring, neutropenia poses a unique and serious risk that can quickly escalate into a medical emergency if not managed appropriately. Thus, diligent monitoring of neutrophil levels and patient education on recognizing symptoms of infection are key responsibilities for the nursing staff.