Nursing DR-TB Guide

Nurses are often the first to hear of a patient’s side effect(s) during TB treatment and therefore, are well positioned to intervene. In response to requests from nurses for additional nursing practice resource tools, this guide was developed to help nurses assess for and respond appropriately to side effects related to anti-TB medications. The guide is designed as a reference so nurses can quickly:

1. Identify symptoms that may indicate an anti-TB or anti-retroviral medication-related side effect;

2. Assess for severity as well as other potential contributors; and

3. Intervene appropriately to minimize patient discomfort, reduce side effect progression, and ultimately support successful treatment completion.

This guide was developed by nurses with experience in the clinical care and programmatic management of TB and DR-TB in both high- and low-resource settings. Nursing and DR-TB literature were reviewed to establish best practice nursing assessment and intervention guidance. Nurses caring for patients with DR-TB field tested the job aid and provided feedback which was used to inform final content and format.