NUCL 166 – TRANSFUSION SERVICES

Transfusion Services

Also referred to as the blood bank, responsible for ordering, storing, and distributing blood products.

Canadian Blood Services (CBS)

Organization responsible for providing blood products.

P packed red blood cells (PRBC)

Administered to patients with significant blood loss or critically low hemoglobin levels.

Albumin

Protein in blood serum that helps maintain blood volume and pressure.

Platelets

Used to promote blood clotting, typically for patients with low platelet count.

Fresh Frozen Plasma (FFP)

Liquid portion of blood used to aid in blood clotting and treat clotting deficiencies.

Cryoprecipitate

Derived from plasma, used for patients with specific clotting disorders, like hemophilia.

Correct Patient Identification

Ensuring the patient's ID label is accurate during the blood product ordering process.

Test Selection

Choosing the appropriate tests for blood orders in the correct lab subdivision.

Date/Time

Recording when the blood order is placed or when it is needed.

Medication Impact

Noting any medications the patient is on that could influence test results.

Vital Signs Monitoring

Patient's vital signs must be closely monitored during blood transfusions.

Blood Typing & Rh Factor

Determining the patient's blood type and Rh factor before transfusion.

Compatibility Testing

Matching patient's blood with compatible donor blood units.

Type & Screen (T&S)

Test to determine blood type and screen for antibodies; takes about 2 hours.

Crossmatch (X-M)

Matching the patient's blood with donor blood; done after typing and screening.

Homologous Transfusion

Transfusion of blood from a donor, the most common type of transfusion.

Autologous Transfusion

Transfusion of blood donated by the patient themselves.

Same Day Transfusion

Ordering blood products for immediate use on the same day.

Transfusion Reaction

Adverse reactions that can occur during blood transfusions, requiring reporting.

72 Hour Outdate

Blood units matched for a patient are held for a maximum of 3 days.

Order Processing

The steps NUC takes to complete and verify blood orders.

Kardex Documentation

Recording blood product orders in the Kardex system for tracking.

Requisition Form

Form used to request blood products from the blood bank.

Empty Blood Bags

Bags returned to the lab after transfusions are completed.

Double Check Protocol

Verifying orders and documentation for accuracy before completing them.

Priority Levels

Levels indicating urgency: Routine, STAT, or Quick Spin for blood orders.

Patient Diagnosis

Required information about the patient's condition for the requisition form.

Blood Bag Identification

Labeling blood bags to match the patient’s identification number.

Adverse Reaction Reporting

The process of documenting any negative responses to blood transfusions.

Temperature Control

Requirement for the proper storage of blood products in the blood bank.

Nurse Verification

Process where nurses check the accuracy of electronic entries made by the NUC.

Physical Lab Order Placement

Procedure for placing orders within the correct lab sections.

RN Responsibilities

Registered Nurses are responsible for monitoring transfusions and reporting issues.

Testing Timeframe

The time it takes to complete all necessary testing before a transfusion.

Testing Results Communication

Informing the nurse about the readiness of blood products for transfusion.

Inventory Management

Monitoring and managing blood product supplies within the blood bank.