Follicular Lymphoma: Answers to Important Nursing Questions

Target Audience

This activity is designed to meet the educational needs of oncology nurses, nurse practitioners and navigators engaged in the care of patients with follicular lymphoma.

Program Overview

Advances in the treatment of FL have led to the approval of two novel agents as well as updates to clinical practice guidelines. Oncology nursing professionals have unique and often long-standing relationships with their FL patients and are trusted sources of information and support. Those who care for patients with FL should be aware of treatment guideline changes and their impact on clinical practice. Recently approved novel medications are associated with unique toxicities that differ from standard chemotherapy and more familiar regimens. As the healthcare provider most likely to see and manage toxicities, oncology nursing professionals need education about these toxicities and their management in order to proactively mitigate potential issues and provide appropriate patient and caregiver education. Finally, the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted clinical practices in patients with FL and recommendations are updated as information becomes available. Oncology nurses need to be able to educate patients about risk-reduction practices and treatment approaches that minimize their risk of COVID-19 infection.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this activity, participants should be better able to:

• Compare the efficacy and safety of recently approved medications to those that are historically used to treat FL
• Describe features of adverse events associated with new classes of agents approved for FL while educating patients being treated with new agents about how to identify, monitor, and respond to adverse events
• Implement practices that reflect current recommendations to minimize the risk of COVID-19 infection in patients with FL while educating patients and caregivers about how to minimize their risk of COVID-19 infection