ONS Connect - March 2008 - (Page 16)

yOUTEllUS How Do You Support Caregivers of Patients Receiving Outpatient Transplantation? Hold Educational Classes e have a twice-monthly caregivers class that primary caregivers are required to attend. The class includes representatives from social work, nursing, pharmacy, nutrition, and physical therapy. Participants are given a three-ring binder with the information in it. Any additional caregivers or family members are invited to attend as well. Each time patients come to clinic, we reinforce teaching. If home infusion is required, we set up home health nursing to teach caregivers and reinforce that information in the clinic. We also provide information for them to access the nearby Gilda’s Club and the American Cancer Society. Finally, social workers are available to meet with caregivers to provide individual counseling. W with patients, but we encourage them to take breaks, leave the hospital, visit a mall, etc. While in the inpatient setting, we let them know we will provide all patient care. We want them to rest, relax, and recover so when their loved ones are back in the outpatient setting they will be well enough to care for them once again. Deborah Dydyk, BS, MA, BSN, RNC The Nebraska Medical Center Omaha, NE revise and Update programs to Meet Caregiver Needs e are challenged by the location of our clinic, two blocks away from the medical center where most services are provided. We have a weekly support group for caregivers that is facilitated by our two dedicated social workers. The Duke Oncology Recreation Therapy Department has set up a comfortable family lounge and has volunteers who provide support and activities for patients and families. We also have wireless Internet and computers with resource sites bookmarked for easy access. Maps to local shopping are available. Our patient handbooks have been revised with a more comprehensive caregiver section, including a handicap parking tag application, updated resources, information about temporary mail forwarding, and a refrigerator magnet with important phone numbers. Because parking is not free at our facility, each patient receives two free books of parking passes when they start their preparative regimen. Finally, we recently added my position as a clinical nurse specialist to provide additional support. Martha Lassiter, MSN, OCN® Duke University Adult Stem Cell Transplant Program Durham, NC Offer Caregiver appreciation luncheons he Seattle Cancer Care Alliance provides a comprehensive support and education program from before caregiver and patient arrival to departure. Interventions directed to the caregiver include group classes, individual education sessions, social work sessions, and support groups. Educational materials are offered to meet all developmental levels. Books, pamphlets, DVDs, videos, coloring books, teen booklets, and individual handouts are available. Group classes and one-on-one education are offered to each patient and caregiver. Each patient and caregiver meet with social work and are invited to weekly support groups. The newest initative in the patient education department is caregiver appreciation luncheons, which offer education and support. T W Susan Moore, RN, MSN, AOCN® Vanderbilt University Medical Center Nashville, TN inpatient Caregivers also Need Support am a bedside nurse who works on the inpatient side of bone marrow transplantation. We have an outpatient transplant program, and many times, as patients become sicker or caregivers become tired, patients will be transferred to us. To provide care to patients is understood, but this is a time when caregivers may need more support than ever. Sometimes they feel they have failed their loved ones in some way, and we have to remind them that is not the case. We allow them to stay in the room I Ann Breen, RN, MN, APRN, OCN® Seattle Cancer Care Alliance Seattle, WA Read more You Tell Us responses online at www.ONSConnect.org. 16 ONS CONNECT March 2008 http://www.ONSConnect.org

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ONS Connect - March 2008 Contents Editor's Note Just In From Then to Now A Year in the Life—Month Three Web Connect Capitol Connection Notice Nursing Now Recognize Hepatic Sinusoidal Obstruction Syndrome in Patients With Cancer Caregiver Care Elasticity of Cells May Help Researchers to Identify Cancer Calendar of Events ONS Congress Your Thoughts and Comments Are a Valued Decision-Making Resource Staying On Top

ONS Connect - March 2008

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