Neutropenia is a common and potentially life-threatening side effect of cancer therapy. This significantly raises the risk of infection, can lead to febrile neutropenia and can require reduction in or postponement of chemotherapy dose. Oncology nurses are an integral part of the team in preventing complications, recognizing signs of infection early, beginning prompt treatment when febrile neutropenia occurs, informing patients and their families, and facilitating the care of multiple disciplines. This review gives a summary of the current evidence and clinical recommendations that can be used to create a nursing framework for assessing, preventing and managing neutropenia in the cancer patient. Key nursing interventions are to assess the risk, to monitor the absolute neutrophil count regularly, to take necessary infection prevention precautions, ensure administration of granulocyte colony stimulating factors in line with clinical guidelines, and commence empirical antimicrobial treatment immediately when fever and neutropenia are suspected. There is also a special focus on providing nutritional assistance, psychological care and ongoing patient education. The review also provides clinical practice guidelines and recommendations for further research and development with practical nursing care plans and monitoring checklists.