Preparing the patient for bone marrow transplantation: nursing care issues

Area of Science:

• Hematology
• Oncology
• Transplantation Medicine

Background:

• Bone marrow transplantation (BMT) involves distinct pre-transplant, immediate post-transplant, and late post-transplant phases.
• The pre-transplant phase is critical, encompassing donor identification, patient admission, preparative regimens, and supportive care.
• Nursing professionals are essential throughout the BMT process, particularly in the pre-transplant phase.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review patient care issues during the pre-transplant phase of bone marrow transplantation.
• To identify and discuss effective nursing management strategies for the pre-transplant period.

Main Methods:

• Literature review focusing on patient care challenges and nursing interventions in the pre-transplant BMT phase.
• Analysis of nursing roles in chemotherapy administration, toxicity management, patient education, and supportive care.

Main Results:

• Nursing expertise is crucial for managing chemotherapy, side effects, and providing patient/family education.
• Comprehensive supportive care is a key nursing responsibility during the pre-transplant phase.
• Specific nursing strategies are vital for addressing patient needs before transplantation.

Conclusions:

• Effective nursing management is integral to successful bone marrow transplantation outcomes.
• Addressing pre-transplant patient care issues through targeted nursing strategies improves the patient journey.
• This review underscores the indispensable role of nurses in optimizing the pre-transplant phase of bone marrow transplantation.