Video

Using the BARF Scale to Measure Nausea

Author(s):

Elizabeth Davis, B.S.N., RN, CPN

One oncology nurse developed the BARF scale so her young patients could better communicate how they were feeling.

Elizabeth Davis, B.S.N., RN, CPN, an oncology nurse at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and finalist of the 2018 Extraordinary Healer Award, explains her BARF scale to measure and more accurately treat patients’ nausea that was implemented hospital-wide.

BARF stands for Baxter Animated Retching Faces, and includes a pictorial scale of images ranging from not nauseated at all to extremely nauseated, that helps children explain to their care teams how they are feeling.

Newsletter

Stay up to date on cancer updates, research and education

Subscribe Now!
Related Videos
Image of two doctors and text.
Image of patient and doctor.
Image of two doctors with text.
image of gerds
Image of 2 doctors and text.
Image of two doctors and text.
Image of man.
Image of thumbnail.
Patients can prepare personal overviews to help care teams connect with them as individuals, explained Michelle Kirschner in an interview with CURE.
Enhertu with Perjeta nearly doubled progression-free survival versus standard treatment in metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer, study shows.
Related Content
Image of kelly.
May 23rd 2025

Ovarian Cancer Treatment Side Effects Make for a Difficult Balancing Act

Kelly Irvin
I urge researchers to look into why side effects occur in cancer drugs and to find ways to mitigate them that doesn’t impact their efficacy.
cancer horizons logo: a white microphone on a navy blue background
March 11th 2024

Oncology Approvals, Psychological Outcomes for Survivors and an Ovarian Cancer Vaccine

Alex Biese Brielle Benyon
Last week we saw some FDA approvals come through, as well as research that explored the psychosocial outcomes of individuals who survived pediatric rhabdosarcoma.
Bonnie Annis is a breast cancer survivor, diagnosed in 2014 with stage 2b invasive ductal carcinoma with metastasis to the lymph nodes. Catch up on all of Bonnie's blogs here!
May 12th 2025

Lymphedema Makes Summer Preparations Challenging After Breast Cancer

Bonnie Annis
Summer heat can worsen my lymphedema, but I’ve learned simple ways to stay cool, reduce swelling and protect my arms — here’s what helps me most.
cancer horizons podcast logo: a white microphone on a blue background
March 4th 2024

Cannabis Talks During Cancer, Cardiometabolic Comorbidities and Current Research

Alex Biese Brielle Benyon
In addition to a breakthrough therapy designation for a lung cancer drug, this week we’ll be talking a lot about additional side effects and health conditions that may come with a cancer diagnosis, and how to manage them.
New results from a breast cancer-related lymphedema study show the importance of measuring fluid and body composition before treatment begins: © H_Ko - stock.adobe.com.
May 2nd 2025

Pretreatment Baseline Screening for Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema

Spencer Feldman
New results from a breast cancer-related lymphedema study show the importance of measuring fluid and body composition before treatment begins.
LUT014 improved rashes in patients with colorectal cancer undergoing anti-EGFR therapy: © stock.adobe.com.
May 1st 2025

BRAF Inhibitor Gel Improves Acne-Like Skin Rashes in Colorectal Cancer

Spencer Feldman
LUT014, a BRAF inhibitor gel, improved acne-like rashes in patients with colorectal cancer undergoing anti-EGFR therapy, according to UCLA researchers.