ASSESSING THE KNOWLEDGE OF BLOOD TRANSFUSION AMONG NURSES IN TERTIARY HOSPITAL
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.66021/pakmcr1318Keywords:
Blood Transfusion, Nursing Knowledge, Patient Safety, Transfusion Protocols, Tertiary Care Hospital, Clinical Competency, Vehari.Abstract
Background:
Blood transfusion is a critical, life-saving intervention, yet its clinical safety heavily relies on the adherence of healthcare providers to established transfusion protocols. Frontline nursing staff bear the primary responsibility for patient preparation, compatibility verification, and the recognition of adverse reactions.
Objective:
To assess the level of knowledge regarding blood transfusion practices among nurses working at DHQ Vehari.
Methods:
Utilizing a quantitative approach and purposive, convenient non-probability sampling, data was gathered from 86 valid nursing respondents across multiple clinical wards using a structured, validated knowledge questionnaire. Statistical analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics 27.0.1.
Results:
The sample predominantly comprised female professionals (80.2%) and a younger demographic, with 69.8% possessing less than five years of clinical experience. Educationally, 53.5% held a professional nursing degree. Overall, 75.6% of the participants demonstrated a "Good" level of baseline knowledge regarding blood component administration, while 23.3% scored within the "Average" range, and 1.2% exhibited "Poor" knowledge. The collective knowledge mean was 2.74 out of a maximum of 3.00, with a low variance of 0.216, indicating uniform baseline theoretical awareness.
Conclusion:
While frontline clinical competency remains strong at the institution, the presence of junior staff underscores a vital mandate for targeted interventions. Implementing periodic, simulation-based refresher courses and double-check mentorship models is recommended to bridge existing gaps and transition average-scoring nurses into top-tier proficiency.
