RESUMO
OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to assess the performance and recognition of transfusion practice at the bedside by nurses in our hospital, where a barcode-based electronic identification system (EIS) has been used since 2002. BACKGROUND: More than half of the steps in the transfusion chain are dependent on nurses' awareness and skills. METHODS: Our transfusion policy at the bedside includes two-person checking of the patient and two-person signing of the label at the time of collecting blood samples for pre-transfusion testing and two-person blood administration, which generally involved a doctor-nurse pair but sometimes involved two nurses. Anonymous, paper-based questionnaires were sent in January 2018 to 1051 nurses who were working in Juntendo University Hospital, Tokyo, Japan. The questionnaire consisted of three parts: (a) background of respondents, (b) performance of collection of blood samples for pre-transfusion testing and (c) performance of pre-transfusion check procedures at the bedside using an EIS based on a total of 20 questions. RESULTS: There was a good response rate of individual nurses (1006/1051, 96%). Most nurses (>90%) performed two-person checking of the patient and two-person signing of the label at the time of collecting blood samples. Most nurses (>90%) performed two-person blood administration involving a doctor-nurse pair and electronic pre-transfusion check using an EIS before blood administration. CONCLUSIONS: The survey revealed that most nurses complied with our transfusion policy at the bedside, but some nurses did not. Further education/training and continuous support by the transfusion service may be needed for all nurses.
