I would like to find out what others are doing for doctor's orders and patient consents before transfusing blood products. Does your policy have the nurse verify the orders and consent prior to picking up the product? Is there a second nurse verification of the order and consent before transfusing the product to the patient?

We have the nurse (just one required) confirm the consent and order/rate are on the chart.  It is documented as a check in a box on the issue paperwork.

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Nursing picks up their own "Transfusion Order" in the Nursing system (Meditech - I don't know what it looks like).  Then they bring a copy of the signed consent form with them for every unit.  It is cumbersome for the RNs to always find the consent form and photocopy it off (and we do suspend that in heavy use) but it has succeeded in getting us to and keeping us at 100% compliance with signed Transfusion Consents on the charts.  The only exception to this is the O.R. (no easy access to photocopiers - they say) and an Emergency Release (where the DR has to sign for the blood).

Each unit is confirmed by a 2 RN read and check, at this point.