We have had a rash of incidents where the nurse are puncturing the RBC unit with the infusion set as they spike the bag. Does anyone have any visual aid information that we could send out as an education tool to the nurses for the proper procedure to enter the bag?

Spike verically, always vertically hold the port and enter gently in semi-circular moveements.

Good description, Liz!

Thank you :bow: Donna that made me feel good about myself especially being a pond and a lake away.

Sue,

Have you considered training a nurse manager and have that manager filter the information to the nursing staff? Liz's post is absolutely correct; they should be holding the port that they are trying to spike and not the bag itself if this is indeed the problem.

Rather: A pond and a puddle away..

Oh look what I found on Google, I guess if it is on Google I can share it here:

http://www.health.gov.nl.ca/health/publications/bloodservices/archives/buffy/spiking_procedure.ppt#368,7,Trouble Shooting Tips for Spiking

http://www.pathology.med.umich.edu/bloodbank/PallBSBChart.pdf

Cliff please remove IF I shouldn't post this, thanks.

Liz

Sue, it is also very important to have the bag vertical, either hang it or hold it downwards, do not lie it on a table top, and as Ron said teach the coach.

We had an increase in punctured units and couldn't figure out what the problem was, this was experienced staff. It turned out the new filter sets nursing was using had longer spikes, and they were inserting at an angle. We did a flyer and reminded nursing not to lay it flat, end of problem.

Liz, thanks for sharing the websites.

Oh Welcome and Happy New Year!!!!

Thank you Liz. That is exactly what I needed.

Thanks Liz for publishing websites