Course: Blood Component Transfusion Training

This course is for people that assess or manage transfusions and alternatives as part of their daily duties. It is useful for staff new to blood transfusion nursing, existing nurses refreshing their learning and non-medical prescribers for blood components. It is not suitable for staff in the specialist settings of Maternity, Paediatrics and Critical Care.

Course Contents:

Module 1

• Introduction
• The Decision to Transfuse
• Who can Prescribe a Transfusion?
• Documentation
• Choosing the Right Blood Type of Component
• Blood Component Transfusion Risks
• Benefits of Transfusions
• Anticipated Outcomes of Transfusions
• Deciding Whether a Transfusion is Appropriate
• Patient Consent
• Patient Refusal
• Requesting Blood Components
• 10 Transfusion Commandments

Module 2

• Blood Sampling
• Intravenous cannulation
• Blood Sampling and Infection Control
• Taking Blood
• After Taking Blood

Module 3

• Collection of Blood Components from Storage and Delivery to the Clinical Area
• Transporting Blood Components
• Confused Samples/ Incorrect Labelling
• Returning Blood Components

Module 4

• Administrating Blood Components
• Transfusion of Platelets
• Transfusion of Fresh Frozen Plasma (FFP)
• Transfusion of Red Cells
• Emergency Blood Loss
• Patient Monitoring
• Adverse Reactions
• Mild Reactions
• Moderate to Severe Reactions
• What to do if there is a reaction