THE ROLE OF NURSES IN COLLECTING COMPATIBLE BLOOD PRODUCTS FROM VOLUNTARY BLOOD DONORS

Transfuzijska je medicina grana medicine koja se bavi prikupljanjem, obradom te primjenom krvnih preparata u liječenju bolesnika. Da bi proizvod bio sukladan, potrebno je pozorno sakupiti krv od pomno izabranih dobrovoljnih davatelja krvi. Zdravstveni djelatnici koji rade u transfuzijskoj medicini liječnici su transfuziolozi, medicinske sestre, laboratorijski tehničari i inženjeri laboratorijske dijagnostike. Trajnom edukacijom osposobljavaju se biti ukorak s novim dostignućima medicine. Prikupljena krv na odjelu i na terenu, obrađuje se na način da se svaka uzeta doza testira na krvlju prenosive bolesti i uvijek iznova određuje krvna grupa, kako bi sa sigurnošću otišla na daljnju obradu. Ta se daljnja obrada sastoji od pripreme za centrifugiranje, ostavljajući doze da se hlade na sobnoj temperaturi dva sata, potom se centrifugiraju i prešaju da bi se odvojile na krvne komponente. Nadalje, spajaju se tri eritrocitne vrećice s jednom plazmom iste krvne grupe. Dobiveni se pripravak ponovo centrifugira, preša, i dijeli na komponente, prolazi kontrolu kvalitete, te validira novom naljepnicom na kojoj je naznačena krvna grupa i dobiveni pripravak. Ovisno o kojem je pripravku riječ, skladišti se i čuva na odgovarajućoj temperaturi. To se zove sukladan krvni pripravak, spreman za transfuzijsko liječenje bolesnika. Uloga medicinske sestre u svrhu prikupljanja sukladnih krvnih pripravaka dobrovoljnih davatelja krvi zahtijeva znanje, vještinu, sposobnost motivacije, dobru organizaciju, praćenje rada svojih djelatnika, nadzor nad postojećom tehnologijom, i komunikacijske vještine potrebne za praćenje dobrovoljnih davatelja prilikom prvog i svakog slijedećeg kontakta s njima. Bazično znanje, komunikacija, rad i sposobnost nadograđuju se dugogodišnjim iskustvom. Specifičnost je odjela za transfuzijsku medicinu u tome što je to rad sa zdravom populacijom sa svrhom izlječenja bolesnih posredstvom educiranog kadra.Transfusion medicine is a branch of medicine that deals with the collection, processing and application of blood products in the treatment of patients. In order for a blood product to be compatible, it is necessary to collect blood from carefully chosen voluntary blood donors. Healthcare professionals working in transfusion medicine are physicians certified in transfusiology, nurses, medical laboratory technicians and medical laboratory diagnostics engineers. Continuing education enables them to stay up-to-date with the latest medical achievements. Blood collected in a blood transfusion centre or at a mobile donor clinic has to be processed. Every collected dose is tested for blood-borne diseases and the blood type is determined in order to prepare it for further processing. Such processing consists in preparing the blood for centrifugation, leaving the doses to cool down at room temperature for two hours and then submitting them to centrifugation and pressure in order to separate whole blood into its various components. Furthermore, three RBC bags are mixed with one unit of plasma of the same blood type. The resulting mixture is centrifuged again, compressed and divided into its components. It is tested for quality and then validated applying a label indicating the blood type and the product itself. Depending on the type of product, it is stored and kept at the appropriate temperature. This is called a compatible blood product, ready for transfusion to patients. The role of a nurse in collecting of compatible blood products from voluntary blood donors requires knowledge, skills, ability in finding motivation, good organization, supervisioning the work of the employees, controlling the technology employed and communication skills necessary to monitor donors during the first and every subsequent contact with them. Basic knowledge, communication and working skills and capabilities are upgraded with years of experience. A distinctive feature of the Department of Transfusion Medicine is working with healthy population in medical treatment of the patients by trained personnel