A preceptorship program in an Israeli bone marrow transplantation unit

Bone marrow transplantation (BMT) departments are unique in character. This is due largely to the following factors: the diseases treated, long-term hospitalization, strong family involvement in the care of patients, and the use of experimental treatment. Because of these factors, clinical experiences in a BMT unit may be a threatening experience for both nursing students and nurses. The BMT unit at Hadassah Hospital has, therefore, developed and implemented a preceptorship program for nursing students and nurses involved in advanced courses. The program includes three aspects: (a) a comprehensive medical knowledge base, (b) instruction in special nursing skills aimed at meeting both the physical and psychologic needs of BMT patients and their families, and (c) supervised involvement in patient and family education and counseling. Our goal is to enable students to care for patients throughout the BMT experience, from admission to post-BMT follow-up. Feedback elicited from students who have undergone the program was positive. They said that the program helped them overcome their fears and encouraged them to apply for nursing jobs in the unit.