Changing Blood Transfusion Policy and Practice.
- Resource Type
- Article
- Authors
- Stupnyckyj, Catherine; Smolarek, Sheryl; Reeves, Colleen; McKeith, Judith; Magnan, Morris
- Source
- AJN American Journal of Nursing. Dec2014, Vol. 114 Issue 12, p50-59. 10p. 1 Color Photograph, 1 Diagram, 3 Charts.
- Subject
- *BLOOD
*BLOOD transfusion
*CANCER chemotherapy
*ONCOLOGY nursing
*CANCER treatment
*CINAHL database
*CONCEPTUAL structures
*DRUG dosage
*HEALTH facility administration
*HEMOLYSIS & hemolysins
*OUTPATIENT services in hospitals
*INFORMATION storage & retrieval systems
*MEDICAL databases
*INFUSION therapy
*MEDICAL protocols
*MEDLINE
*PERSONNEL management
*SYSTEMATIC reviews
*SPECIALTY hospitals
*EVIDENCE-based nursing
*CHANGE management
*PATIENT-centered care
*VASCULAR catheters
*META-synthesis
RESEARCH evaluation
- Language
- ISSN
- 0002-936X
It is often an accepted practice that a 20-gauge-or-larger catheter is used for the safe transfusion of blood in adult patients, but it is unclear w h a t evidence supports this practice. This article tells the story of how a small team of oncology nurses designed and implemented an evidence-based practice project to challenge that convention. A literature search and a consultation with the standards of the American Association of Blood Banks and the Infusion Nurses Society determined that a smaller-than-20-gauge catheter can be used safely to transfuse blood in adults, a discovery that led to a change in policy and practice at the authors' institution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]