November 2017
Jenny
Crowley
,
BSN, RN
Bone Marrow Transplant
The University of Kansas Health System
Kansas City
,
KS
United States

 

 

 

BMT Nurses are accustomed to taking care of sick, weak, ill cancer patients undergoing the grueling process of a Stem Cell Transplant. A lesser-known patient population is our healthy donors. These donors are heroes, giving life in the form of stem cells to either a family member or stranger. Interestingly, our donors are more likely to vasovagal during a routine lab draw and can absolutely experience anxiety, fear or worry about medical procedures or the outcome of their donation. Nursing education and care can support our donors in many ways. One such donor presented to our clinic on a Saturday morning. She was called abruptly the day before by our team. The message was, her father needed more cells urgently from her. She drove 3 hours to the clinic the next day for lab collection. When she got into the lab chair, she became tearful. She was overwhelmed stating, "I like to prepare for these things." She wasn't comfortable with the blood draw because she had been at college marching band practice the day before outside, and was dehydrated. She was experiencing so many emotions and was scared. She considered backing out of donation, possibly delaying lifesaving care for a patient. Jenny recognized this patient's fear and apprehension and stepped in to assist. Jenny calmed the patient down by asking her about herself and her hobbies. Jenny's gentle tone, warm presence, and confident nursing nature put the patient at ease and she could relax enough for a successful phlebotomy. We often forget about the stress and anxiety that our everyday procedures place on our patients. Jenny connected with this donor and hopefully saved a life in the process. This is just one instance of nursing at its finest in the BMT program. Thank you, Jenny Crowley.