Congress Abstracts 2006

102

BONE MARROW TRANSPLANT-WHAT HAPPENS NEXT: A TEACHING GUIDE FOR THE COMMUNITY BASED ONCOLOGY NURSE. Margaret Bellerjeau, RN, BSN, OCN^®, Temple University Bone Marrow Transplant Program, Philadelphia, PA.

Patients treated in the community setting are often sent to a large university or comprehensive cancer care center for a bone marrow or hematopoietic stem cell transplant. Compounded by the impact of being referred to another facility, patients experience multiple stressors that may delay the process. The oncology nurse is in a position to help bridge this changeover by educating the patient about what to expect during the transition period, facilitate the transplant process with an understanding of the timing of referrals and expedite the delivery of required information.

Too often there is a delay in referring a patient to a transplant center due to lack of knowledge or misinformation about the process. This can result in unnecessary stress and unrealistic expectations endured by the patient and /or a delay in treatment. The purpose of this presentation is to make oncology nurses aware of what is involved in bringing a patient to a bone marrow or hematopoietic stem cell transplant and the need for early referrals.

Develop a referral guideline, outlining the general steps involved once a patient is referred to a transplant center. Patient handouts on what to expect as the patient transitions to the transplant program will also be included. In addition emphasis on the need for a timely referral within the treatment course and specific criteria that the community nurse can assemble to facilitate the process will be included.

Data will be collected via questionnaires to evaluate the effectiveness of the guidelines by assessing the length of referral times before and after the development of this program. In addition, the transplant program representative, will conduct a brief survey at the end of the new patient visit, to assess the ease from the patient's perspective, with which the transition took place.

Oncology nurses, as well as physicians, though familiar with bone marrow or stem cell transplants, are often unaware of the amount of time, and testing needed for successfully bringing a patient to transplant. By improving awareness and promoting early referrals we enhance the transplant experience, increase quality of care and improve transplant outcome.