Quality assurance of hospital transfusion practices: the role of nursing staff

After a pilot study and other data revealed incomplete documentation of patient transfusions, representatives of a hospital blood bank and nursing services organized an education program for nurses on transfusion medicine. The program emphasized transfusion procedures, especially the need to monitor patients; possible adverse reactions and ways to assess them; appropriate interventions; and the importance of documentation. On-going monitoring and a follow-up study indicated substantial improvement in documentation and reaction identification after the in-service training.