Patient Safety and Nurses' Practice of Blood Transfusion in the UAE

Patients in the United Arab Emirates' (UAE) hospitals have, undoubtedly, received incorrect transfusions due to human errors. This could still be the case, given the persistence of the circumstances that predisposed to the said errors. The magnitude and outcomes of such transfusions remain unpublished and, thus, unknown. The consequences of the errors could have been death or major morbidity. Nurses stand at the forefront of preventing such errors and preserving patient's life only if they possess good knowledge and skills, and maintain positive attitudes with regards to the transfused patient. This is the first book from the Arab world that is based solely on field research undertaken in two UAE hospitals to assess nurses' knowledge and practice of blood transfusion. The results of the study highlighted interrelated individual, organizational, educational and societal factors that influence nurses' performance in this field and largely explain the root causes for administering incorrect transfusions. A set of recommendations for policy, practice, education and nursing leaders is proposed. This book is useful for nurses, nurse educators, nursing students and health policy makers.