Blood School: A Laboratory-Based Transfusion Class For Nurses

Objectives: To describe and evaluate a laboratory-based nursing education activity on transfusion to improve patient safety, an often-neglected opportunity.Methods: Our transfusion service developed a day-long "Blood School" to provide knowledge, skills, and behaviors to nurses in four aspects of transfusion: blood ordering, sample collection, transfusion procedures, and recognition and reporting of transfusion reactions. We collected survey data on methods and effects of training and hard data on the number of reported patient safety events.Results: Nurses want more hands-on experience to understand transfusion concepts, practice hospital procedures, recognize latent problems, and have behaviors to act effectively. We observed that engagement and understanding are best where participation is highest. Reported patient safety events were lower even as self-reported nursing mistakes increased.Conclusions: Blood School is a well-received and effective site for nursing education in transfusion. We seek ways to extend and improve laboratory-based nursing training to improve patient safety.