Congress Abstracts 2006

98

"CELEBRATE LIFE" A STEM CELL TRANSPLANT TRIBUTE. Katherine Lindemann, RN, OCN^®, Sara Flickner, RN, BSN, OCN^®, Beth Kubow, RN, Melissa Leaverton, RN, BSN, Jillian Miller, CTRS, Nancy Nainis, ATR, LCPC, and Barb Rice, RN, OCN^®, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL.

Patients about to receive a stem cell transplant for treatment of life-threatening illnesses such as lymphoma, leukemia, and multiple myeloma receive aggressive therapies requiring lengthy hospital stays. This often presents challenges to address psychosocial concerns that rise to the forefront. The goal is to instill hope in an environment of care that meets the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of patients and their families. To that end, an interdisciplinary team of nurses, physicians, social workers, chaplains, art therapists, recreation therapists, and patients collaborated to design a plan to recognize this special moment as a "celebration of life

The purpose of "Celebrate Life" A Stem Cell Transplant Tribute is two part. The first is to acknowledge the importance of the stem cell transplant process on the day of transplant, and the second is to celebrate "survivorship" at an annual event that is sponsored by our institution

A "Celebrate Life" package will be presented to transplant recipients on the day of their reinfusion. The package includes a journal, a humor-infused kit designed to bring smiles and lift spirits, mints, a personal hand-written note from the attending physician as well as a commemorative poster signed by the transplant team. Transplant patients may also choose to invite the services of pastoral care to participate in this celebratory event. All team members are encouraged to visit patients before or after the reinfusion to offer hope and encouragement. The celebration doesn't stop here. At an annual survivor celebration walk, stem cell transplant patients are invited to meet and walk together to share a special morning of celebrating survivorship.

An initial plan is to interview each patient within two weeks of his or her transplant day and document his or her anecdotal responses to this project. These will be reviewed by the interdisciplinary team every three months with new ideas incorporated into the celebration.

This "celebrate life" project is a result of feedback from patients, families, and staff who requested that reinfusion day be acknowledged as a special event. To honor this special population of patients, this project was developed to "Celebrate Life".

Discussion: Most medication errors are products of multiple system failures and a complex work environment. Providing a safeguard against errors is a function of all disciplines involved. In the case of preventing intrathecal administration of vincristine, a preventable error with a fatal consequence, collaboration between Pharmacy, Nursing, and the Medical staff is vital.