Certification of donor apheresis nurses: keys to develop an effective training program

Within Sanquin Blood Supply, a training program to train apheresis nurses was developed. The parts of the work for which qualification should be necessary was analysed. Based on this analysis, a modular program with theoretical and practical information and knowledge was developed. The modular program consists of two sections: a theoretical and technical / practical. The theoretical section consists of by the project group identified themes including basic hematology (e.g. the characteristics, kinetics, physiology and function of blood cells), basic apheresis physiology, indications for apheresis procedures, criteria for donors apheresis, difficulties and risks of procedures as well as the actions to be taken in case of side effects, and introduction to the apheresis machine available, including the mechanism of the machine. The program for the technical / practical section consists of machine and procedure knowledge (in theory and practise) and troubleshooting. To conclude each individual module, tests in theory and capability to perform procedures are taken. Each trainee needs to demonstrate to have sufficient insight and skill to master all the relevant critical features of the work. Also a text-book for the trainee was written. This educational program provides an approach to educate and test apheresis donor nurses. The combination of theoretical and practical components and monitoring of the progression are an important basis.