Learning Objectives:

• An introduction to safe transfusion practice
• A prerequisite theory component for IV competency training prior to practical competency in the clinical setting
• Midwives pathway in the quiz includes Anti D and Hep B Immunoglobulin questions
• To complete this Module

Blood products are biologic material (and in the case of blood cells, are living human tissues). They are prescription medicines intended for use by medical practitioners and midwives in the treatment of their patients. Blood product therapy has had a central role in the advances and practice of modern medicine but should be viewed in a similar light as other risk/benefit decisions in clinical medicine. Professional judgement based on clinical evaluation determines selection of products, dosage, rate of administration and sometimes other decisions in situations not covered in this general introduction to blood transfusion practice. The presence of contaminants, immunogenic cellular and protein elements, viable lymphocytes and infectious agents in blood products cannot be totally avoided and indeed may cause undesirable side effects in some recipients. 

Time: 45 minutes