Investigation of Self-Efficacy Levels of Cardiovascular Surgery Intensive Care Unit Nurses on Safe Blood and Blood Product Transfusion

Blood transfusion is a life-saving and therapeutic procedure, but it also carries high risks. Nurses have the greatest responsibility in preventing complications related to blood transfusion. To maintain safe practice standards, healthcare institutions need to use national transfusion guidelines and establish blood banks/transfusion laboratories, transfusion protocols, and hemovigilance teams. From the moment the blood is collected from the donor to the end of the transfusion, administering the right blood to the right patient, storing the blood appropriately, monitoring the patient for signs of reactions during the procedure, and having sufficient knowledge and skills on precautions to be taken when complications develop are the responsibilities of nurses regarding transfusion. For nurses to fulfill their duties in this regard, they must have up-to-date knowledge, skills, and competence. Since CVS intensive care clinics are where blood transfusion is performed most frequently, it is of particular importance that the nurses working in these units have sufficient knowledge on the subject and are strengthened in this regard. Based on this situation, the research is planned to determine the self-sufficiency levels of nurses working in the CVS intensive care unit regarding blood transfusion and to contribute to the field by eliminating deficiencies in this regard through training.