Blood Transfusion Reactions

What is this article about?

There are basically two different types of risks when giving blood. The first relates procedural errors that may occur, such as placing incorrect labels on blood sampling tubes. The second area of risk relates to transfusion reactions. This is why Standard 7 of the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) is focused on blood and blood products. Nursing care of the patient undergoing a blood transfusion is of utmost importance. Nurses are responsible not only for the actual administration of the blood product and monitoring of the patient during its administration but also efficiently identifying and managing any potential transfusion reactions. It is important to remember that transfusion reactions may occur during the actual blood transfusion as well as in the days and weeks following the administration of the blood product.