Nurses' Knowledge and Practices Regarding Blood Transfusion Safety at Isra University Hospital, Hyderabad

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the knowledge and practices of staff nurses regarding blood transfusion safety at Isra University Hospital, Hyderabad.

Design/Methodology/Approach: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from July to September 2024 with 50 staff nurses from different hospital wards. Descriptive statistics, including frequencies and percentages, were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics Version 23

Results: The results highlighted that female participants 94% were female and 6% were male. Hence, in both the areas of knowledge and practice, there were gaps: 88% of nurses had significant knowledge of blood transfusion protocols. 54% of participants identified that O-negative was a universal donor, while 40% provided the correct temperature for storing red blood cells. Further, 64% of them knew that cloudy blood bags should be sent back to the blood bank while only 52% of them understood that leaking blood bags should also be returned to the blood bank.

Conclusion: The study concluded that nurses' knowledge and practice of blood transfusion safety were average. Educational interventions were recommended to address gaps in understanding RBC storage, blood bags, and transfusion safety. Targeted training for patients could enhance their compliance with safety measures, ultimately improving patient outcomes.