Safe Blood Transfusion Practices among Nurses in a Major Referral Center in Ghana

Table 8

Complications related to blood transfusion.

Variable	Frequency	Percentage (%)
What interventions could minimize the risk of the patient experiencing acute transfusion reaction? (four answers required)
Administration of blood that is compatible with that of the recipient
Yes	251	89.96
No	28	10.04
Starting the transfusion within 20 minutes after collection from the blood bank
Yes	46	16.49
No	233	83.51
Administering a unit of blood to the patient within 4 hours after collection
Yes	133	47.67
No	146	52.32
Taking the history from the patient
Yes	21	7.53
No	258	92.47
Not transfusing drugs or solutions that are incompatible with blood
Yes	131	46.95
No	148	53.05
Stopping blood if there are signs and symptoms of the transfusion reaction
Yes	58	20.79
No	221	79.21
Correct score	1	0.36
Wrong score	278	99.64
What signs and symptoms indicate that the patient is developing an acute haemolytic transfusion reaction?
Tachycardia
Yes	210	75.27
No	69	24.73
Productive cough
Yes	30	10.75
No	249	89.25
Chest pain
Yes	167	59.86
No	112	40.14
Bradycardia
Yes	71	25.45
No	208	74.55
Hypotension
Yes	153	54.84
No	126	45.16
Shallow respiration
Yes	137	49.10
No	142	50.90
Nausea/vomiting
Yes	120	43.01
No	159	56.99
Neck pain
Yes	30	10.75
No	249	89.25
Correct score	21	7.53
Wrong score	258	92.47
What should be done immediately when signs and symptoms of the acute haemolytic transfusion reaction are seen?
Stop blood transfusion
Yes	239	85.66
No	40	14.34
Inform the nursing supervisor
Yes	1	0.36
No	278	99.64
Check the patient’s vital signs
Yes	21	7.53
No	258	92.47
Notify the doctor and begin emergency treatment according to the medical order
Yes	8	2.87
No	271	97.13
What is the commonest cause of the most fatal transfusion reactions?
Warming blood to more than 37°C	9	3.45
Error in blood bank testing	94	36.02
Antibodies in the Rh system	78	29.02
Identification error of the patient	80	30.65
What is the first action that the nurse should take to handle a patient with mild allergic transfusion reaction?
Stop the transfusion and notify the doctor	239	88.85
Notify the doctor and slow the transfusion rate	2	0.74
Slow the transfusion rate and notify the doctor	6	2.23
Check the patient’s vital signs	21	7.81
Notify the senior nurse	2	0.37