Clinical Summary

• A cancer center implemented mandatory multimodal education on cytokine release syndrome and immune effector cell–associated neurotoxicity syndrome for all nurses.
• The initiative combined online learning modules with case-based simulation exercises using institutional management algorithms.
• Completion rates reached 100%, with more than 94% correct responses across inpatient and outpatient practice settings.

As cellular immunotherapies expand across oncology practice, healthcare systems face increasing demands to prepare nurses to recognize and manage potentially life-threatening toxicities. Presented at the 2026 Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) Congress, researchers documented a multimodal educational initiative at Huntsman Cancer Institute in Salt Lake City, Utah, which sought to improve nursing competency in identifying and treating cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and immune effector cell–associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS).

The program focused on therapies including chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T), tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL), and bispecific antibodies. Because patients receiving these therapies may develop acute or delayed toxicities in both inpatient and outpatient settings, investigators emphasized the need for institution-wide preparedness.

The educational intervention included 2 components. First, mandatory online modules were developed for all inpatient and outpatient nurses. The modules reviewed mechanisms of action, indications, and toxicity profiles associated with CAR-T, TIL, and bispecific therapies.

Second, nurses participated in a dedicated skills-day station featuring case-based scenarios focused on CRS and ICANS. Using institutional algorithms, participants identified symptoms, assigned toxicity grades, and selected evidence-based interventions.

Program effectiveness was evaluated through performance during the case study exercise. Completion rates for both inpatient and outpatient nurses reached 100%, and correct responses exceeded 94% across all practice settings. Investigators also reported that informal feedback and immediate remediation suggested improved confidence among nurses in recognizing and responding to immunotherapy-related toxicities.

The findings demonstrate that scalable, multimodal education may strengthen institutional readiness for cellular immunotherapy care. Combining foundational online instruction with interactive application exercises appeared to reinforce both knowledge acquisition and clinical decision-making skills.

Clinically, the initiative highlights the growing importance of standardized toxicity education as cellular immunotherapies become more widely used across oncology settings. CRS and ICANS can progress rapidly, making early recognition and evidence-based intervention critical for patient safety.

The study’s authors noted that the initiative “effectively prepare[d] nurses in a range of practice areas to care for patients receiving cellular immunotherapies.” They added that integrating online modules with interactive case-based learning improved “comfort and confidence in responding to these emergent toxicities.”

To sustain competency, the institution plans annual updated online modules and continued participation in dedicated cellular immunotherapy skills stations for inpatient and outpatient nurses.

In conclusion, the program suggests that structured, institution-wide education can enhance nursing preparedness for managing complex toxicities associated with modern cellular immunotherapies.

Source:

Stewart K, Houser W, Bennett E, Tawakelevu B. Preparing Every Nurse: A Multimodal Education Initiative on Cellular Immunotherapy Toxicities. Presented at the Oncology Nursing Society Annual Congress; May 13-17, 2026. San Antonio, TX.